PORT TOWNSEND – City leaders told Port Townsend School Board members that they were willing to consider acquiring the Mountain View Elementary School’s Blaine Street acreage at a joint meeting of the two governing bodies this week.
Declining enrollment has Port Townsend School Board members seriously considering shutting down Mountain View – which houses the city-operated swimming pool – and consolidating facilities at Grant Street Elementary School.
But the school district has made no decision.
City leaders see the Mountain View site as a possible central location for a new police station to replace the cramped station at 607 Water St.
“I know we’re very interested in taking a look at it,” said Mayor Mark Welch on Tuesday.
“We know that the pool could go out at any time.”
Council member Geoff Masci brought up the idea of forming additional government partnerships in the possible Mountain View property acquisition.
“Peninsula College would be a logical partner in this,” Masci said of the institution, based in Port Angeles, that now houses classes at Fort Worden State Park.
City Manager David Timmons also raised the possibility of rebuilding the popular swimming pool.
“We’re probably not looking at much salvage value in the pool,” Timmons said.
Bonding, grants and loans could be considered to fund new city facilities, Timmons said.
John Eissinger, School Board chairman, said the district would likely call for a bond-issue to finance school improvements, once school plans have been specified.
To achieve city acquisition of the Mountain View site, Timmons has proposed the city trade 160 acres it owns in the Snow Creek area for 80 acres of state Department of Natural Resources land outside Port Townsend near Jacob Miller Road.
The city could then trade that land with the school district for the Mountain View site, he has said.
Councilman Frank Benskin urged the city to come up with dollar figures and “some real facts” to pursue the land swap option.
Council members directed Timmons to schedule a work session dedicated to discussion of the Mountain View acquisition.
