WASHINGTON ISLAND FOUNDATION, INC. and
WASHINGTON ISLAND RECREATION CENTER
Post Office Box 68 – Washington Island, Wisconsin 54246 October 12, 2021
Dear friends,
As you are aware, the Mosling Rec Center is an aging facility. The Rec Center Committee and the Washington Island Foundation Board have been examining ways to “Reinvigorate the REC.” Through the generosity of Island Angels, Inc., an engineering study of the physical and mechanical structures of the REC was performed by CR Meyer Company. Their report was presented on an A, B, and C priorities basis, with A priorities being the most important and immediate. What we learned is that although the building has “great bones”, there are several A priorities that are critically important, and others that are needed, but somewhat less critical. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of what systems need the most attention, and how we can hope to pay for those improvements.
Two key components of the REC are addressed here and are the most significant A priorities presented in the CR Meyer report: the boilers and fuel system, and the concrete corners in the pool area. These two components are at the “heart” of the REC. They need repair and they need it soon. Our fuel and boiler system were installed in 1985 and were modern at the time. Today, almost 40 years later, the single-wall oil tanks represent a potential environmental disaster resulting in the closure of the REC and the Town being involved with several State and Federal regulatory agencies.
It is past time to:
1. Remove underground oil tank; install new LP tanks, remove & replace
boilers, upgrade air-handlers; upgrade electrical for controls, and add insulation.
COST: $234,859.
2. Repair pool concrete corners and supports, repair concrete at four pool doors,
re-caulk windows and tuckpoint, repair roof leaks.
COST: $43,000
3. These items made the A list on the CR Meyer report, and we’d like to include them in our A priorities, if we can raise sufficient funds:
Repair and paint exterior soffits & facia $7,500
Replace lockers in both locker rooms $17,000
Replace Pool Windows $11,000
Replace Pool Door $ 4,500
Replace whirlpool railing $4,400
Electrical upgrades $20,000
All together, these improvements total approximately $350,000.
Wow! So where will those dollars come from? Donations made this past year to “Reinvigorating the Rec” are a starting point. The Rec Center Committee and the Foundation Board have formed a joint working group to partner with Island Angels to support fund-raising incentives, write grants, and work with the Town of Washington to source State and Federal government funding options.
In addition, we’re looking at naming opportunities that break down large lump sum costs into manageable bites, for example: naming a locker for the person who pays for the cost of that locker.
Who’s going to do all the work? The pricing in the report was based on input from local contractors. CR Meyer will do the engineering and supervise the construction, but the HVAC, fuel system, concrete work, etc., will be done by local contractors.
What’s next? We’ve heard from any of you though your survey responses. Thank you!
Your positive and insightful comments help us plan for the improvements that have been identified in the engineering study and which we want to address. We believe it’s most important to focus first on the energy savings, safety and increased integrity of the physical building, and we trust you agree.
The original gift from the Moslings has become a cornerstone of our Island community.
With the gift of the engineering study, we know exactly what we need to accomplish for the REC to stand strong in the community for the next generation. There’s a good deal of work to be done. We welcome your participation – please join us in this effort.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Foss, President