The Haines Borough Assembly voted in January to deny a request for a publicly-funded community sauna, and Tuesday it also voted to deny a privately-funded one.
After rejection of the original request, the Chamber of Commerce came forward and said it would raise funds to pay for the sauna, to be installed at the pool, if the borough agreed to pick up the amenity’s annual operation costs, estimated at about $800.
The resolution outlining the public-private compromise came before the assembly Tuesday. As assembly members Debra Schnabel and Dave Berry were absent, all four present assembly members had to vote in favor of the resolution in order for it to pass.
Assembly member George Campbell, however, was unwilling to bend to the arguments of his three fellow assembly members and Mayor Stephanie Scott.
“I actually support the sauna, but I don’t support the sauna right now,” Campbell said, saying the sauna should compete with all the other projects outlined in the budget.
Campbell also requested a more detailed breakdown of yearly operating costs for the sauna, though executive assistant to the manager Darsie Culbeck provided an analysis of the probable electricity costs.
Purchase of a sauna is estimated at around $6,500.
After a 3-1 vote that made other assembly members sigh and laugh in frustration, assembly member Joanne Waterman moved to put the same resolution on the April 22 meeting agenda. The motion passed.
In a letter of support for the resolution, the chamber said its board didn’t only vote unanimously to support installation of a sauna at the pool, but agreed to be its “fiscal sponsor.”
“As a fiscal sponsor, the chamber will coordinate fundraising efforts, soliciting sponsorships to ‘Friends of the Haines Sauna,’ collect these contributions and, once the financial goal is met, issue payment to the Haines Borough,” the letter said.
A sauna would be an “enhancement to the recreational aspect of our community” and “an additional draw to individuals and families considering visiting or relocating to our community,” the letter added.
The sauna would be six-by-eight feet and located on the “deck” near the east stairs.
Sauna proponents – including the pool manager, public facilities director, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Haines Dolphins swim coach and more than 30 pool users who signed a petition — argue installation of a sauna would increase pool usership, save energy, promote economic development, and encourage health and wellness.
“I think we should give them the green light,” Mayor Scott told assembly members Tuesday.
Assembly member Diana Lapham also thought it was worth giving the sauna a shot, though she acknowledged it might turn into a passing “fad” that wouldn’t end up increasing pool usership over the long term.
“It’ll never work if we don’t try,” Lapham said.