The Mount Vernon City Council will explore repairs to the current Mount Vernon pool in January, but those repairs may not be made ahead of the pool opening this spring.
City administrator Chris Nosbisch and parks and rec director Matt Siders had visited with Waters Edge Pool Consultants on potential repairs to the pool to expand its life for another seven to 10 years. The proposed aquatic center the council and community identified as their favorite option is still at a minimum of seven years from construction.
Nosbisch said the estimates for pool improvements are between $1 million and $2 million, and will be brought to the council to consider in January meetings.
Nosbisch said one issue to be addressed before the pool opens this year is the removal of two slides, due to safety concerns.
“Addressing the diving boards is next,” Nosbisch said. “They might not be removed this year, but there’s enough settling on one of the boards that is showing impact to the pool deck that we need to consider them.”
The gutter system around the pool needs repair, and as it is a custom size, will cost a deal.
Because the council will be exploring these items in January, Nosbisch doesn’t think some of them will be completed before the pool is open for the 2024 year, but it will still open early this summer.
“It may be a case where we can order the items and have them ready for next fall to make the needed repairs,” Nosbisch said.
Nosbisch said even with removing the slides, he thinks the city will need to replace them to extend the pool life.
Council member Stephanie West asked if the council were to approve the purchase of slides or diving boards, would those items potentially be saved for the new aquatic center?
Nosbisch said if the council were to choose to spend on the higher end of the estimates, that may be a possibility.
Other repairs to address with the investment would be fixing one of the heaters for the pool, areas of concrete spalling that has happened, and try to mitigate some of the thousands of gallons of water leaking from the pool.
Council member Scott Rose said that thanks to the pool study, this is the first time the council is being proactive in addressing pool item.
“We know what the cost is for a new aquatic center,” Rose said. “We’re operating on facts on how to prolong the life of our current pool.”
Council member Craig Engel also said the engagement on the pool study reiterated that the City of Mount Vernon wants a pool as a recreational facility.
MV council to evaluate pool options
December 14, 2023
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.