Horizons is a Community Partner
It’s happened at previous meetings but now seems in bedded in the community. The city and other organizations like 911 are coming to the Horizons group to help make things happen. This Sunday it was the city that met with the horizons steering committee at their monthly meeting asking to collaborate for help with the swimming pool. The problem is the cost of running a community pool is around $34,000. Income from users generates $4000 leaving a shortfall of $30,000. It doesn’t take rocket science to see the budget draining. After brainstorming the group thought the public needed to be educated. Scobey built it’s pool 52 years ago after 2 kids drowned in the river. They were trying to solve the poverty issue (poor in spirit) offering a positive place for youth to go. The family rate is now $75/year no matter how many kids. The group suggested raising rates and offering scholarships for those who couldn’t afford it. Also they are starting with an awareness campaign featured on the front page of this week’s Daniels Co. Leader, the weekly paper. (It’s great to have the staff writer, Mike Stebleton, a strong believer that poverty reduction is the key to a thriving community, on the steering committee.) A radioathon is in the pool’s future as Scobey has generated over $700,000 in radioathons for different causes through the years. Other groups such as the food bank and 911 address system have partnered with the Horizons steering committee. They are known for making well thought out decisions with a cross section of the community; for thinking outside the box on what resources are available and making structural changes to better their community.