McBride selected as public member on HLVRA board

Last month three local residents submitted letters of interest for the public member’s seat on the Honey Lake Valley Recreation Authority Board, but the board tabled the item because it was unable to make a selection.

The item returned at the board’s Tuesday, July 21 meeting. The board’s executive secretary, Jolene Arredondo, said the one of candidates for the position had withdrawn. She said after consultation with the city’s attorney, the board could re-notice the opening and bring it back at the next meeting.

But Vice-President Mike Scanlan asked if the board could make a selection today, and Arredondo said yes.

One interested party did not attend the meeting, but the other — former city councilmember Nick McBride did attend and said he was still interested in serving.

“I’d kind of like this to be over today,” Scanlan said, “get a board member on and move on from there.”

“I’m kind of in the dark,” said alternate board member Dawn Miller. “I have no clue.”

She did not attend last month’s meeting, and she said she was unfamiliar with those seeking the seat, and therefore she wondered if she should vote on the matter.

McBride addressed the board.

“We’re down to two years to make something happen to keep the pool alive, unless a miraculous contribution from the city and the county comes in to keep us going,” McBride told the board. “So, if I’m not your top pick, maybe I’m not your guy.”

Despite not being selected at last month’s meeting, McBride offered the board his perspective on why he should be the public member.

“Overall, I’ve got more historical knowledge about this pool than any of you guys,” McBride said. “Brian Wilson and I sat down and came up with our pool plan about how we were going to look for funding.”

He said he was there at the ceremony at Susanville Supermarket when the idea was revealed to the public. He said he visited all the sites during the site selection process and he went through “the whole nightmare of that.”

“Now you guys are dealing with the fallout from the high school being upset and the public members being upset because the public is not informed of the fact the high school had the option to join us when we did this, and they chose to stay out of it. And now they want us to cough the bill up to keep the pool open for them when they didn’t even join us.”

He also said there once was a plan to limit the city’s involvement and avoid these administration fees.

“There’s a million things right now,” McBride said. “I’ve already told you guys where I’m at on it. I’m not your top choice. If you guys want to work and work with me then let’s get it done and get it going. … It’s up to you guys to make the decision. We’ve got a lot of work to do … My original mission was to get a pool built. We got a pool built. Our mission now is the keep the pool going …I need four other members who are willing to put the work in and get this done, otherwise, hang your flags, shut the pool down and let’s be done with it.”

The board unanimously approved McBride’s appointment, and he took his seat at the dais.

Other actions
The board unanimously approved the minutes from its April 21 and June 16 meetings; approved a resolution naming Arredondo as the HLVRA’s executive officer; approved invoice from the city for ;$38,854.61; and reviewed financial reports through June 30, 2026.