Village officials at fault for pool woes

In response to your Aug. 13 article on the Hawthorn Woods Aquatic Center, the mayor and village trustees should stop blaming others and look in the mirror! For the idea of an aquatic center was doomed from the get go.

First, there was no community census for the need of the pool, then the contracts were divvied out on a "non-competitive" basis, and the location of the pool is very questionable in terms of appeal.

To blame the contractor, Schaefges Brothers, and the village architect, Jeffery Pathman, for loss of revenue is ludicrous. For was it not the mayor and village board who offered free season passes and discounts to the public? So why hold the contractors accountable for the village's actions?

If there was a need for an aquatic center, contracts should have been bid out with clear-cut deadlines and penalties. Thereby, avoiding the need to withhold funds due to these businesses. By withholding funds and possibly litigation with these parties, who would want to do business with our village?

Steve Rafalson

Hawthorn Woods