Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Having attended the May 6th council meeting, I ask again that the City of Wapakoneta investigate safe options for removing the paint on our 1937 Works Project Administration Bath House at the Water Park. It is beyond befuddling that a red brick building that functioned well for 87 years without paint—as it had been designed to do—now bears as many as THREE coats of paint since midmarch (white, brown, and now black). What an amazing waste of taxpayer dollars, with complaints from many citizens and taxpayers having been ignored, again and again.

I attended City Council on April 1, at which time sections of the building had been painted white and tan. I requested that the City investigate contractors skilled in exterior paint removal—they do exist. As reported in council minutes, Councilor Miller noted that the painting “was an unfortunate use of limited resources within the pool’s budget.” Councilor Muhlenkamp noted that the list of projects was presented to the Parks Committee “but painting the brick building was not on said list.…president Doll suggested adding the matter to the City’s Comprehensive plan update for consideration.”

Mayor Lee [stated] “superintendents need to make decisions every day without the direct knowledge and consent of himself and SSD Brillhart. Mayor Lee stated that there is no plan to paint the rest of the building and likely no proper way to remove what has already been done, especially if it doesn’t make financial sense to do so….” At no time on 5/6 did anyone say, “we might make the situation worse.”

Skip ahead to May 1. Citizens noticed that the bath house was being painted black, including a previously unpainted section facing Hamilton Road. Many complained again, as the community had not been informed about this new coat of paint.

The response that has been consistent from several City Councilors for weeks is that they have no control over Department Heads, that such supervisors report to the Service Director and the Mayor.

At last Monday’s council session, the Parks Committee chair presented the following minutes from the April 22nd committee meeting (which had been attended by the Parks Director and mayor):

“City Pool--the painting of the building was discussed. Hayzlett stated he intended to ‘spruce it up’ after conversations with the Mayor. It was discussed that a professional opinion on design would be sought…to discuss the paint color. The original plan had been to paint all of the wings, including the currently unpainted

Hamilton Road side, white but it was then changed to tan. Questions about the opportunity for collaborative art were also mentioned.”

Get it? Some members of City Council—not all, but some—knew more than a week ahead of time that the bath house would be painted again. The minutes do not indicate that they reminded the Mayor about the many previous complaints about the unnecessary painting. The minutes do not indicate whether they even asked that the Mayor delay this action and seek an estimate from a reliable company for paint removal. The minutes do not note that painting a third coat would be yet another “unfortunate use of limited resources within the pool’s budget.” The minutes don’t indicate that anyone simply advocated for our community, especially its children and families.

Half a dozen people knew what was going to happen next, including several city councilors. Since committee meetings are not covered by any media, the community had no way of registering its opinion before even more damage had been done. Think of the precedent--that a supervisor can paint his department’s buildings any color he wishes. That’s not how a functioning municipality works. Please continue to speak out, and please direct all your comments to the Mayor, as we have been asked by Council.