Lisbon council to seek engineer specializing in pools to evaluate repairs
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This is the old filter system that needs replaced for the Sadie Van Fossan Pool in Lisbon. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Councilman Joe Morenz also suggested cutting through the cement around the perimeter of the pool to get a better look behind the top of the walls rather than trying to get a camera inserted through a hole.
Those were the points discussed Tuesday night during a meeting of the Parks Committee of Village Council, with those ideas to be presented to the full council at next week's council meeting.
During last week's council meeting, Mayor Peter Wilson shared with council the results of the pool renovation plan and probable cost from Howells and Baird Inc., an engineering firm from Salem, with Council President Melissa Hiner commenting, "We don't have a million dollars."
The $770,000 probable project cost according to a plan submitted to the mayor by Howells and Baird Inc. included $450,000 for the pool reconstruction, $162,000 to replace the filter system, $3,000 for plan review fees, $10,000 for a high clearance lift, $15,000 for accessories such as ladders, handrails and signage, $65,000 for engineering and investigation and $65,000 for contingency.
The scope of work outlined in the plan included: draining the pool; removing residue from the walls and floor; demolition of a portion of the pool deck, gutter and upper portion of the walls; installing a new gutter system, new stainless-steel liner for walls, new floor overlay, new deck in-fill and all state health department required accessories; removing a portion of the filter building roof, the existing filter system and portion of the existing filter system piping; installing new filter system, roof in-fill, new piping, etc. for new filter system; testing system operation; and obtaining inspections by the state.
Howells and Baird solicited budgetary proposals from two well-established pool contractors, but had only received one response so far.
The proposal said a stainless-steel wall is regarded as the best and longest lasting pool system, while the current system of stainless-steel gutter mounted to a vermiculite wall does not seal watertight. The proposal said the project would require a plan submission to the Ohio Department of Health and possibly the Ohio Department of Commerce, plus current code issues would need addressed, with potential items including a handicap lift, ladders, stairs, handrails and ramps, signage, lifeguard chairs related to number and location, verification of the circulation system's turnover rate, documentation of circulation piping, all equipment and details of the system, depth markings and deck markers, safety line and location and other items dictated by the health department. Plans would have to be approved by the state.
The pool has been talked about and talked about during council meetings for most of the year or longer.
Councilman Zachary Smith, who chairs the parks committee, talked about the plan from Howells and Baird, saying "obviously, we can't do that."
Morenz said he talked to a representative of Aqua Pools whose father built the original pool who gave a suggested cost of $225,000 to $250,000, explaining the idea was to saw the concrete back and seal the cracks on the inside all the way around the pool and then replace the concrete. He also said a leak detector company looked and there's an idea of where the leaks are.
He said he called Salem Sewer and Drain about putting a camera in behind the wall, but there would have to be a big enough hole to get the camera through.
Morenz said his thought was to just cut the concrete all the way around the perimeter.
Councilwoman Susan Temple asked what if they spend the $250,000 and then there's problems again in two years, but Morenz said he was told it would last at least 20 years. He did say the pump house would need brought up to code.
Morenz also said he wants to check for an engineer that works with pool companies. He said Howells and Baird does great for roads, water lines and sewer projects, but the company had not done pool plans in a long time. He said the village could ask the guy from Aqua Pools about engineers for pools and maybe they would have ways to bring the prices down.
Smith questioned if the village would be allowed to cut the cement back, with Council President Melissa Hiner saying it could be done in-house with village employees. She's not on the committee, but was present for the meeting.
Councilman Jerry Cox said the committee could ask council at the next meeting. Cox was recently put back on the parks committee after being off of it, giving the committee four members, with Temple, Smith and Morenz all members.
Wilson reminded the committee that state Route 164 through the village is being repaved and he wants someone from the street department there at all times, plus there's other work that needs done. He doesn't want the street department overloaded. Cox said he would check with some local contractors regarding the work.
The village received $150,000 already from the state toward the pool repairs and he and Hiner attended a meeting with the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA) and learned there's a grant they could apply for that requires a 50% match. He said they could use the $150,000 grant as the match, with the total becoming $300,000. The grant requires a plan and cost estimate to be in place and there's a November deadline.
Wilson said OMEGA is "willing to work with us but we would have to make a decision fairly soon."
After the meeting, Morenz explained the project would require digging out 4 inches of concrete around the perimeter of the pool to get down to the pool wall to see where the leaks are. He also said at the top of the wall there are two chambers, with one bringing water into the pool and the other with water splashing over and going to the pump.
When asked about the pool's future in 2027, he said "at this point, I'm not sure if the pool will open next year."
The next meeting of the full village council is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at village hall.
mgreier@mojonews.com