Let counties oversee pool safety

The Daily Herald has recently published articles relating to the state of Illinois’ voluntary election to participate in the compliance for pools contained within the Virginia Graeme Baker Act. The State of Illinois, by setting a date certain to Oct. 1, 2011, for compliance with this act, not only set school districts up for failure, but their own administration as well.

By their own admission, the Illinois Department of Public Health, has four staff members reviewing plans to bring pools up to the standards set forth in this Federal Act. There are four thousand pools in the state of Illinois. Furthermore, when asked by a local senator’s office to produce a complete and accurate list of non-compliant pools, the IDPH was unable to do so and their website has not been updated in the last two months.

The state of Illinois, by choosing to participate in unrequired federal legislation, has added not only an undue financial burden to the taxpayers of Illinois, but to their own staff. The state has additionally failed, as they did not notify the local health department of any violations.

This is a classic example of overuse of governmental power, and willful misuse of state monies and resources, further burdening the taxpayers of the State.

Pools in Lake County are currently inspected by the Lake County Health Department as to safety and compliance. I call for Governor Quinn and the legislature should rescind the Oct. 1 date for pool compliance and further, transfer the onerous task of modification review to the counties in which the non-compliant pools reside.

Holly R. Donaghy

Vernon Hills