OTHELLO — Othello city officials are considering asking voters for a construction bond to repair, expand or possibly replace the Othello Community Pool sometime in 2027. Othello City Council members are still discussing the details.  

Othello residents rejected a $3.5 million construction bond proposal to repair the existing pool, which was closed in spring 2024. Brooke Hanley of NAC Architecture, Spokane, said the price will be higher than the bond proposal due to the effects of inflation. 

"Between the time that we priced this and today, it has been about 5% per year," she said. 

Mayor Ken Johnson said city officials should anticipate an increase in costs of about 5% each year. Five percent of $3.5 million is about $175,000.  

If a proposed bond was approved, the pool construction timeline would depend on the approval date. In Washington, election dates are scheduled in February, April, August and November; if voters approved a bond by August 2027, construction probably would be completed by 2029, Hanley said. November 2027 approval would push project completion to 2030. 

Johnson said the council already has approved one ballot proposal for April, at least tentatively. Voters will be asked to accept or reject annexation of the city into Adams County Fire District 5. 

City officials appointed a community committee in 2024 to recommend options for rebuilding or replacing the pool. The committee came up with four options, ranging from repairing the existing facility to building an indoor pool with event space. Council members opted to propose the repair of the existing pool, the bond that voters ultimately rejected. 

An alternative option would've expanded the pool by two lanes, which would add about $1.5 million to the cost. Council member Angel Garza said that may be the option that best fits Othello's situation. 

"Adding two lanes will put us up to $5 million plus whatever the 5% increase is going to be. I think we really don't want to be going back and forth anymore with any enclosed pool or all-season pool," Garza said. "We've been talking about getting this pool rebuilt, getting it done. Let's start there. We want to get it rebuilt." 

Council member Chris Dorow, who was chair of the community committee, said some people who talked to him in the wake of the 2025 election said they voted against it because they wanted the bigger pool.  

" I think the problem I see over and over again in Othello is if you ask 30 different people what they want for the Othello pool, you will get 30 different answers. That is, I think, a big issue," Dorow said. "To automatically assume that we will pass a bond that has already failed is assuming a lot. I mean, maybe it's been closed long enough that people's attitudes and opinions have changed. I think the biggest mistake we can make is to assume what people want." 

Council member Alma Carmona said the feedback she has received is to get the pool open as soon as possible. 

" I have consistently, over the last 30 days, had people tell me there was nothing wrong with the pool that we had. We liked it the way that it was- patch it, get it open. Across the board, at Walmart, at the school, at my job - in Moses Lake. I have had people tell me, get it open." 

Public Works Director Robin Adolphsen said the old pool was busy, really busy in fact, and she suggested council members take that into account. It had room to accommodate 300 people. 

"We were having troubles with capacity. They were turning away kids because the pool was already too full," Adolphsen said. "I understand we want the pool back open, but I think you also need to recognize what your capacity was originally, and going forward, how much the city has grown and is projected to grow in the next 20 years." 

The city received grants to build a splash pad in Kiwanis Park which was completed in late August. Opening was delayed until spring 2027 due to problems found during the inspection, according to information from city officials. 

Garza said in his opinion a lot of families that would've gone to the pool in the past will opt for the splash pad in the future. With the splash pad option, Garza said he thought adding two lanes would be enough.  

Council members asked for updated information on estimated costs, which Hanley said should be available in about a month. 

    Othello residents could be asked to vote on a second bond in 2027 to repair or replace the now-closed Othello Community Pool.