By Ann Petersen, SBA Columnist | 7/17/25
(SBA) - I had a lesson in local politics last week. For the past several years. When I have mentioned how much our early morning ladies enjoy our hour to swim and to exercise, I am invariably met by comments including “Well you better enjoy it now, because it’s not going to be around much longer” or “We don’t need a public pool because everyone in Sergeant Bluff has a pool in their back yard” or “Only kids from Sioux City use our pool.” Or “A pool runs a deficit of over $100,000 each year.” I always have a retort to such comments because where are most children in Sergeant Bluff going to learn how to swim if we don’t have a public pool?” These concerns have grown more frequent this year and so I asked the ladies who swim with me five days a week if they would attend last week’s City Council meeting so that the Council could see that individuals other than children use our pool. About fifteen women (out of a roster of 25) attended the meeting. The Council recognized these women because we work and shop in our town.
The first woman to enter the Council chamber was Linda Hinze and as the Mayor and Finance Director were sitting in the audience area, they asked Linda why she was there. She told them that our group was there to express our concern about the potential closing of our pool. This angered the Mayor and when I entered the chamber a few moments later, the Mayor exploded on me. He announced that there were no such rumors about the pool and that I was getting all of my information at Eddie’s. I found his comments exceedingly offensive and a clear attack on me for riling up the women of town about what he termed “a nonsense rumor.” He said that questions regarding the pool have never included closing the pool, a comment that I, who read each meeting’s report that is printed in THE ADVOCATE every two weeks know to be false. I go through the minutes carefully so I know what has been printed and I have read conversations there regarding the pool several times in the past few years. The main concern addressed in those minutes is the cost which often exceeds the budget item by as much as $100,000. But a pool is a public service to the City and not a money-making endeavor.
Those of you who know me well recognize that I express my concerns about Sergeant Bluff with vociferousness. I was the wife of a Council member for many years, as well as the wife of the Mayor for twelve years, so I understand how our City functions and I feel deeply when something that seems inappropriate is expressed in a public setting. I am an intelligent, well-educated older woman, and I still have all of my faculties and as we live in a democracy, I am always one of the first to express my feelings. Dale often warned me to keep my big mouth closed.
When it was my turn to speak during “citizen comments,” I expressed my concerns about the impact that closing the pool would affect the middle age and older members of our exercise group and I made it very clear to the Mayor that I never receive information from Eddie’s. I found it interesting that no member of the Council responded to my words, except the Mayor who obviously, holds me in contempt. By the end of my time (three minutes) at the podium another member of our group asked about progress on the fishing pond. The Finance Director informed the audience that the pond was now holding water and fish would soon be added to the pond so that the original intent of what is currently an eyesore could be fulfilled. Satisfied, our group left the meeting.
I encourage you to attend a Council and to express your concerns in that public forum.
