SEQUIM — Sarah Moores is a 14-year-old with a busy schedule at Sequim Middle School, a part-time job at her grandma’s deli, and a circle of friends with whom she socializes in her limited free time.
She’s also an exceptionally talented swimmer with the potential to compete at high levels, according to her coach and teammates.
For Sarah — team captain of the Olympic Peninsula Aquatics swim team — it’s pretty simple, as summed up in a letter she wrote and read recently to the Board of Directors of Sequim Aquatics and Recreation Center, better known as SARC.
“I can’t wait to get to the swimming pool, because it’s my whole life,” she said.
At least part of Sarah’s life is on hold now, disrupted by a feud between the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, under which her swim team operates, and SARC officials who last month voted against renewing a contract letting the team train in the 16-year-old indoor pool.
As of Wednesday, the team is no longer swimming at SARC as it has for the past five years.
At issue is the inability to agree on suitable time slots for the team to swim, both sides say.
A last-ditch effort at SARC’s most recent board meeting had swim team members reading emotionally charged statements to board members.
No parents spoke to the board, but many adults in attendance — including team coach Dan Clark — said all board members except Bill Black appeared unresponsive and disinterested in what the kids had to say.
SARC operates under the Clallam County Parks and Recreation District No. 1.
Its initial funding for construction came from a public bond issue, and has at times been supported by public maintenance and operation levies as well as bond financing for facility expansions.
But the center experienced two levy failures in 2002 and is no longer receiving tax income.
Its bond interest payments, which currently cost property owners about 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, will cease at the end of the year.
The center will then rely on memberships and residual fees to support itself, board President Bill Black said.
“We are getting to the point of having to run like a private business,” Black said.