Final Swim of 2024

Last Saturday was the last day of open swim at the Malta Municipal Pool, but the Hi-Line Future Foundation is hoping that the pool can open its doors in 2025 and beyond!

In conjunction with the final swim of 2024, the Hi-Line Future Foundation hosted their first big fundraiser for the pool and raised a total of $5,343.35.

The event provided local youth and onlookers with much to smile about as educators at Malta Public Schools took pies to the face, and Julie Snellman of Arts Furniture & Carpet and Tom LaBrie of the Great Northern Hotel were thrown into the pool off of the diving board as part of the fundraiser. Phillips County Sheriff's Office also participated by throwing Deputy Marie Buchfeller in the pool.

Snellman was asked how it felt to be thrown in.

"Extremely refreshing," Snellman said.

Snellman was wearing a bridesmaid dress and LaBrie wore a bright highlighter colored ensemble that really turned heads and was the topic of a few poolside conversations.

"I was just really, really honored to be nominated, so I thought, we better, you know, kind of dress it up a bit," Snellman said.

The duo arrived to the event in a blue Corvette with a sign that read: Tommy Class of 2000 / Julie Class of 2007 / It's an honor to finally be NOMINATED.

"You know, we weren't nominated in high school, so we felt kind of special," she said as far as Homecoming and Prom events went. "This time, people had to pay for us to be nominated. We showed up in style because we were nominated! It's our last chance! Ever!"

Snellman shared what the pool means to her.

"I spent a lot of time at the pool, growing up," Snellman said. "As did my brother and my cousins. I just think that it's really important that we all showed up here and show support that we need a pool in our community."

Snellman was pushed in by her son Shaun. LaBrie was pushed in by both of his children, Liam and Tenny.

"It was actually really nice, actually it was really refreshing to get pushed in the pool," LaBrie said. "I almost want to go back in."

LaBrie was asked about his history of swimming in the City Pool, which was built in the 1950's.

"I swam here for years, it's just a sad thing and hopefully we can all come together and help out and get our pool back," LaBrie said. "Because, it seems like everybody's showing good support for it, and I just want to show my support and anything that I can help with, I'd be happy to."

The PCN also caught up with Kayla Warren, President of the Hi-Line Future Foundation.

"This is the last day the pool will be open this year, so we decided to make a big party out of it and do some fundraising to help with rehabilitating or replacing our pool," Warren said. "It was built in the 1950s, and it's old, so me and the other Hi-Line Future Foundation board members, we've really been working hard at finding solutions to raise money so we can either rehabilitate or rebuild our pool, just as it is for right now, just so we can keep this open and as an option for our kids and our community."

It will take time regardless of the route that the foundation decides to go with. But ultimately, the 2025 swim season depends on the Malta's City Council, who announced that the pool would be closed earlier this year.

There is a tentative hearing in place to discuss the future of the pool on Wednesday, September 18, at the Malta Event Center.

"The City Council will ultimately decide whether they open it or not," Warren said. "Right now with the blue part of the pool, the edging, the coping is crumbling. They're a little worried about liability, and they're worried about the cost of the upkeep of the pool, as well as staffing... So they are looking at keeping it closed next year, we are hoping we can change their mind, especially bringing forth a plan to rehabilitate, replace it, and even just help maintain it."

Warren and the foundation have been meeting with different engineers and businesses in regards to the pool, as well as lawyers in regards to figuring out how to fund the project.

Though the pool is city property, one idea that is being revisited is looking into the ability of getting a countywide bond that won't impact large landowners.

"I've talked to other places like Chinook, where they've done a school district bond," Warren said. "So, I've really been doing the work trying to figure out what it would cost everybody, how it needs to be set up and how we can do it as a community, and what the city council and the county commissioners need to do so that it can be a county bond."

Warren said that on a hot day, the pool sees over 100 children, and many of those children are from around the county.

"It's really important not only to keep our kids busy in the summer and cool, but give us the opportunity to give swimming lessons," Warren said. "If we don't have our pool, those kids are going to try to find a way to stay cool, and hopefully it's not in the canal where there's no lifeguards and there's a lot of other hazards."

The project is estimated to be a $3,000,000 fix, but every bit helps. The fundraiser was able to find creative ways to raise money.

The pool plunge raised $1800, teachers that were hit with pies can rejoice, because that event raised $500. 300 ducks were sold at $5 each and brought a total of $1500.

Warren will meet with an engineer on Monday and will be able to get clearer numbers on the cost of rehabilitation vs rebuilding.

"The new board started in May and we have jumped in with both feet," Warren said.

The Hi-Line Future Foundation is: President Kayla Warren, Vice President Tessa Handley, Treasurer Macie Hould, and Secretary Mandi Webb. The Board Members are Meghan Newman, Ashley Stuart, and Nellie Ereaux.

Warren gave a special shoutout to Handley and Hould for spearheading the Pool Fundraiser event.

"They deserve a round of applause and a pat on the back for making the event possible," Warren said.

Donations to the Hi-Line Future Foundation are tax deductible. If you missed out on the pool fundraiser but want to support the cause, checks can be sent to P.O. Box 514 Malta, MT 59538.