By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

COLBY -- Colby soon will be home to a new aquatic park, thanks to a three-quarter cent sales tax that was voted into effect Tuesday.

Tax collection will begin April 1, with a cap of $5 million allocated to construction of a new swimming pool and $2.5 million to pay off bond debt for a new fire station. The tax will sunset in 10 years.

Turnout for Tuesday's citywide election was more than double that of most elections, with 44 percent of voters casting a ballot, said Thomas County Clerk Shelly Harms.

"Usually we're between 15 and 20" percent, Harms said. "It was pretty good."

Voters approved the issue nearly three to one. According to unofficial results, nearly 900 constituents voted in favor of the tax issuance, with about 300 opposing the project.

Votes will be canvassed at Monday's county commission meeting, with about 30 ballots left to be counted, Harms said.

The project was led by a group of constituents who presented the idea to city council members this summer. Efforts now are being headed by a 12-person aquatic center work group, with final authority resting with the city council.

A location has yet to be selected, but it's hoped construction will begin by May, meaning the pool would open for the 2011 swim season.

Needless to say, the committee is "thrilled" with the election results, said Jennifer Burr, who has helped lead the initiative.

"I guess when you're so personally involved, you always have to kind of keep Plan B in mind," she said. "So we were very, very pleased to get this passed by such a wide margin. That was really kind of like the cherry on top."