Centralia School Super Promises to Restore Therapeutic Pool

Above: Former Centralia school board director Neal Kirby, standing, organized a meeting Monday night to hear an update from Centralia School Superintendent Mark Davalos on why a therapeutic whirlpool is still not functioning at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center in Centralia.

Seniors Want Results for Taxes Paid, Hold Superintendent Accountable for Promises

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Over 30 people, most of them seniors, showed up for a meeting Monday night to hear an update on why a therapeutic whirlpool is still not functioning at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center in Centralia.

The whirlpool has not been fully functional for over two years and was finally shut down in June by the county health department.

Before they finally shut it down, the department gave the school district two years to fix it, citing at least 15 different code violations.

Former Centralia school board director Neal Kirby organized the meeting at Thorbeckes because he was frustrated with the school board’s inaction on the issue. 

Centralia School District Superintendent Mark Davalos attended the meeting and brought Eric Wilson, the school district’s facility maintenance director, to provide information on next steps. 

With patience wearing thin, the seniors peppered the two officials with pointed questions and comments.

“This is my fourth year as superintendent and I inherited the issue as I came in….It’s about managing the money and taking care of all our obligations….Sometimes the wheels move slowly,” Davalos explained at the start of the evening.

Above: Brown water sits in the therapeutic whirlpool at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center. The pool has not been fully functional for two years and was shut down in June by the Lewis County Health Department for code violations.

The Centralia Community Pool at Thorbeckes is owned by the Centralia School District, built on City of Centralia property, and operated by Thorbeckes Athletic Club.

The funding mechanism for the pool facility is dependent upon a collaborative agreement among the entities. There are five years left on the ten year agreement and some are worried time might run out and no one will fix the whirlpool.

Kirby, 66, said he has arthritis in his back and keeps fit by hiking and swimming. He enjoyed using the whirlpool after he got out of the pool.

“It’s called a therapeutic whirlpool for a reason. It offers the heat and massage people need, especially for those who have had joint replacements and issues far worse than me,” he said.

“If we don’t fix this, I’m worried that something else won’t get fixed further on down the line. It’s really incumbent upon us to push to make sure this facility is maintained. I hope we can get it working as it was,” said Kirby.

According to the agreement, Thorbeckes pays for minor, internal repairs and maintenance and the school district and city share the cost of major repairs in equal amounts.

The community has repeatedly voted for school levies with pledges to the pool facility.

Above: Seniors enjoy their water aerobics class at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center in Centralia on Monday evening. Later, several participants attended a meeting to hear an update on why a therapeutic whirlpool is still not functioning at the Center.

With 21 classes per week, the facility sees hundreds of water aerobics participants every month with 1,870 in February, said Thorbeckes pool operator Jason Knispel, who attended the meeting.

Davalos said the pool facility costs about $300,000 annually to operate and the school district is committed to its obligations.  

Normally, about $50,000 to $60,000 per month is set aside to cover this cost, but an unexpected $200,000 pool repair last year diverted money from repairing the whirlpool in a timely manner.

“We paid it and ended up spending more than our annual set aside money….We’ve exceeded it a few times in the last few years, and we’ve been under that amount for a few years. We hope repairs will normalize but we’ve been hit with a couple of big costs,” Davalos said about the aging facility. The facility was built in 1978.

Utilities cost the school district and the city each about $40,000 per month.

Next Steps

According to Davalos, the district met with Thorbeckes and the city about a month ago to discuss the replacement of the whirlpool. All parties agreed that was the best course of action.

The district recently hired a firm to perform an analysis on what repairs are needed to bring it up to code. Those repairs would cost $40,000 in parts alone, said Wilson.

It was the firm’s recommendation to replace the entire unit.

Davalos and Wilson said that with the school board’s approval, the district will look into hiring ORB Architects of Tacoma to design and engineer plans for a new whirlpool.

Several individuals with long memories immediately brought up questionable electrical and plumbing issues that have dogged the facility. They balked at using the same firm that was used when the facility was built.

“I’ve been in business 42 years and I’m just seeing a tremendous number of red flags with ORB,” said local businessman and former Chamber of Commerce executive director Dan Duffy. “Personally, I think you’d be wiser to go with someone else or get other bids. I would not seek them out.”

Wilson readily admitted the whirlpool wasn’t built as designed and said other companies could be sought out.

“We’ll take that into consideration,” he said, saying it would take more time, perhaps a couple of months, to research alternative options.

By the end of the meeting, Davalos said that the school district will develop a request for proposals by the end of year, get started at the beginning of the year, and have it operational by mid-spring 2019.

“We’re here because the wheels are in motion…we don’t start something like this unless our intentions are to complete it. We are going to do our due diligence and do the right thing….We’re going to make it happen,” assured Davalos.

Several seniors said they would use the whirlpool for therapeutic reasons if it were repaired.

Seth Knox, Jr., 72, has been a resident of Centralia since 1985. He has had two hip replacements and has a metal plate in his back. He enjoys his water aerobics classes at the Center.

Knox, an Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne, served two tours in Vietnam, two tours in Korea, one in Germany and one in Alaska. 

“I would use the whirlpool if it were fixed,” he said.

Joy Dykes, 82, of Centralia, also said she used the whirlpool when it was operational.

“I miss it. I don’t take pills. I don’t like medicine. This is the answer,” she laughed, pointing at the pool. “I do water aerobics three times a week, yoga twice a week, and walk three miles a day in the summer. I do have arthritis really bad in my hands but there are some people who really, really need it,” she said.

Asked after the meeting to clarify water usage details, Wilson said the water usage numbers have always been high due to the nature of the facility. The total water usage for the entire facility reached 47,000 gallons per week.

This includes the pool, whirlpool, a leak in the whirlpool, sinks, showers, toilets, and evaporation factors.

“Over time, the water usage number has increased but significant increase could be attributed to a leak or other issues. Since the spa (whirlpool) has been shut down, the weekly total water usage has significantly decreased and the water bill has been thousands less per month,” said Wilson.

Community journalism in the public interest is needed now more than ever. It also takes time. Little Hollywood, based in Olympia, was asked to attend the Monday night meeting to shine the light on a two year old issue that has not seen local newspaper coverage or action. 

Little Hollywood welcomes news tips and donations in support of issues and concerns involving seniors, veterans, the houseless, and others not often heard in corporate media. Go to https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com to donate via PayPal or other methods.

Above, far left: Seth Knox, Jr., 72, an Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne who served two tours in Vietnam and two tours in Korea, listens to Centralia School Superintendent Mark Davalos on Monday night.

Fourth of July in Centralia

Above: Centralia city councilor Peter Abbarno, 41, in gray shirt, participated in the SWAT challenge Tuesday morning. The activities were part of a fundraiser benefiting children in the community, sponsored by the Centralia Police Officers Association.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

http://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

On the Fourth of July, community members in the City of Centralia partied like it was 1776. Fireworks throughout Lewis County could be heard well after midnight.

The festivities began in Borst Park with a pancake feed, served by local city councilors, and an 8K and a 1.5K run called, “I Ran from the Cops,” followed by a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) challenge.

The challenge stations -- running, push ups, sit ups, and pull ups -- were part of an actual entry level SWAT exam as specified by the Washington State Training Commission. 

Administered by regional SWAT team members, the timed test is the same that every SWAT officer must pass on the first day of SWAT school. If an officer fails any event, the officer is sent home right then – no excuses or exceptions.

Luckily for these participants, no one was booted out, because it was all for a good cause.

Above: Runners start the 1.5K run on Tuesday morning at Borst Park. Annnie Voetberg of Centralia was the first woman to cross the 1.5K finish line at 8 minutes and 50 seconds.

Sponsored by the Centralia Police Officers Association, the funds raised through entry fees go toward scholarships, bike helmets for kids, and community projects serving hundreds of children.

There were over 100 participants this year, said Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza, who supervised the performance of many of the possible recruits, including eleven members of the Johnson Family. 

Ribbons were awarded for participation, timing, and ability ranked within several age categories.

Above: Bentley Johnson, 7, of Centralia, shows everyone how it’s done. He did 121 push ups.

Above: Samantha Johnston, 11, of Centralia, focuses before accomplishing six pull ups. She received a ribbon for coming in fourth for her age category.

Later, a parade was held in downtown Centralia, as well as a demolition derby and fireworks display at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

Tumwater Brewery: A Contract Brewery for Samuel Adams or Sierra Nevada?

Above: The brewery and the swollen Deschutes River as seen yesterday from Tumwater Falls Park.

 

Positive Prospects Emerge For Tumwater Brewery Property

 By Janine Unsoeld

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The last few years have been frustrating for Troy Dana, commercial real estate agent and property manager for the former brewery in Tumwater. Selling 800,000 square feet of cold, empty, dark and decrepit looking buildings is not easy, but recent prospects may be looking more positive.

No doubt, the removal of the covenant restricting production of alcoholic beverages at the property last June helped, but recent rumors brewing in the rainy South Sound air can now be confirmed to be based on truth.

In response to an inquiry from Little Hollywood, Dana offered tantalizing hope yesterday in exclusive interviews just before and during last night’s Brewery District Plan open house. A public hearing was held after the open house by the Tumwater Planning Commission and Tumwater city council.
 

“I can’t make a comment on specific companies, but several large brands are interested in the possibility of utilizing a contract brewery in Tumwater. It’s safe to say there are four that have expressed interest and would like to know more. I’m ready. It’s time.”

And no, it’s probably not MillerCoors time. The Miller days are gone, having blown the last whistle here in 2003, putting 400 people earning family wage jobs out of work.

 

Above: A Miller Brewing Company advertisement from a 2001 Lacey Thurston Chamber of Commerce membership directory.

 

Dana says the 31 acres involving the brew house and warehouse have been appraised at $16 million, and the building still has 300 barrel tanks, infrastructure, and plumbing to support a viable contract brewery here.

Dana says he receives, on average, about two inquiries a week about the property from around the world. Tumwater’s slogan, “It’s the Water,” comes from the production of beer since 1896 until 2003, with the exception of Prohibition.

In early February, Dana told the council that he is working with a developer from California who has redeveloped breweries and constructed breweries. The developer is reviewing the brewery property and considering the facility as a 250,000 barrel contract brewery.

Current Craft Beer Trends

According to the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade group, the craft beer industry is defined by four distinct markets: brewpubs, microbreweries, regional craft breweries, and contract brewing companies. Contract brewers hire underutilized but well-equipped regional breweries to produce a recipe with the contract brewer's own ingredients and formulas.

The Brewers Association tabulates production statistics for the U.S. brewing industry, and says that of the top 50 overall brewing companies, 39 are small and independent craft brewing companies.

“In 2012, craft surpassed six percent of the total U.S. beer market, with volume and dollar sales reaching record levels,” said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association. “Increasingly, beer lovers are turning to craft brewed beer from small and independent producers to satisfy their thirst for bold, innovative and flavor-forward beers.”

The top five U.S. craft brewing companies based on 2012 beer sales volume are: 

1. Boston Beer Co. Boston, Massachusetts

2. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico, California
3. New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins, Colorado
4. The Gambrinus Co. San Antonio, Texas
5. Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon

Dana declined to comment yesterday when asked about a particular company or brand. Samuel Adams is an American brand of beer brewed by the Boston Beer Company and its associated contract brewers.

Sierra Nevada is based in California. According to an upcoming March issue of Forbes magazine, Sierra Nevada will host a participatory “Beer Camp Across America” traveling festival this summer to highlight its place within the broader craft-beer movement.
 
Other Offers

In early February, Dana also shared information with the Tumwater City Council about an opportunity that came and went last year.

He said he was contacted by a man representing a national company that provides short-term storage for vehicles for soldiers deployed overseas, who asked about the potential of utilizing the brewery warehouse and parking lot. The individual received a federal contract and faced a tight timeline on whether it could be used. The rate the company was prepared to pay would have been satisfactory for a developer to offset the cost of acquiring the facility.

Dana advised the individual that he didn’t believe it was possible under the interim zoning but contacted Tumwater city administrator John Doan and met with staff to explain the situation. City staff advised Dana that under the provisions of the interim zoning, the use wasn’t allowed. Dana had offered to meet with the council to request reconsideration of the request but learned the company had moved forward to select another site. He asked the council to consider exceptions to the interim zoning, which is mixed-use.

Dana said the situation was frustrating, because “it was the right opportunity for the right reason.”
 

Dana said one of the most lucrative, attention getting ideas he’s been approached about has been interest expressed by local and national marijuana growers to use the facility and use the beer tanks.

“I’ve been told they would be perfect, hermetically sealed vessels for growing marijuana.”

The budding pot market aside, Dana says his focus has always been to bring another brewery back to Tumwater. He even thinks the brewery could attract 500,000 barrel contract brewery.

Asked if the building wasn’t too old and decrepit, Dana said, “We need to find that developer with experience with mixed use, brew pub tasting, who knows how to redevelop a site, identify that developer, and introduce them to this opportunity....We need to find out what kind of market opportunities are out there, and face the realities of what we have. Given what we know today, a contract brewery makes a lot of sense.

“A contract brewery here would be a strong logistical advantage....Breweries ship their product from the East Coast, with plenty of transportation costs. The brewery is a complex site. It’s going to take a visionary to take the next step to mitigate the risk.”

Dana, a resident of Thurston County since 1973, says he’s lived through the cultural changes of the area and remembers when “your manliness was determined by how many beers you could drink in five minutes,” he says, laughing.

Dana has attended previous Brewery District Plan open houses. “They’ve been good, and create community involvement, but at the end of the day, it will take viable capital solutions. Until then, it’s still a lot of good ideas.”

He says Centralia and Port Townsend are great examples of communities with downtowns that have come back from the brink of economic decay.

“Their downtowns are remarkable. I went to Centralia in December for the Christmas Tractor Pull and thousands of people were lining the street at 7:00 p.m. to see 40 to 50 tractors decorated with Christmas lights. I held hands with my wife, drinking coffee, and at no point ever did we feel uncomfortable with the quality of people there.

“We’re at the tipping point…at some point, somebody has to step up and we’re going to turn this around. I have invested endless energy and countless resources trying to create an economic interest in this. There’s still extraordinary brand equity in that complex. Bring it back and you’ll have substantial community support,” said Dana.

 

Above: Proving It's Still the Water, the mighty Deschutes River runs through Tumwater yesterday afternoon. The former brewery is in the distance. The Falls Terrace restaurant can also be seen in the video.

 

Above: Close up of easel poster on display at last night's Brewery District Plan open house in Tumwater. The circles indicate proposed roundabouts.

 

For more information about Tumwater businesses, land use, environmental issues, or the draft Brewery District Plan, read other articles at Little Hollywood at www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and use the search button.