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By Michele Smith
The Times 

Dayton Pool Won't Open this Year

Cracks in concrete and other damage led city council to difficult decision

 

April 19, 2018

Michele Smith

City Parks and Rec Manager Rob John points to crumbling paint on the interior of the Dayton pool. He said the entire pool needs to be sandblasted and repainted.

DAYTON-Citing public health, safety and liability issues, the Dayton City Council voted last week to close the city pool for the 2018 summer season. The vote was unanimous.

"The staff was heart-broken," said City Manager Trina Cole about the council's decision.

The pool, which was built in 1982, is developing cracks on top and below the deck and in the crawl space, and is heaving in places. Cole said the entire pool needs to be sandblasted and repainted, and that work cannot be done before a summer opening. Temporary repairs are not being considered.

A month ago, city workers noticed vertical and horizontal cracks in the deck of the pool, and Adam Schmidtgall, Principal Engineer with Anderson Perry & Associates, was brought on board to take a look.

He presented the city with some cost estimates to repair visible problems, but said there could be further costs, if underlying issues are found, such as a crack in the pool and leaking.

It would cost between $3,000 and $6,000 to clean the drain system, repair the cleanout boxes, and repair cracks in the gutter system. Schmidtgall's estimate was $10 per sq. ft. to remove and replace the recommended 300 sq. ft. of decking. He said costs could go as high as $10,000, depending on what is found, after cleaning and crawling through the gutter.

An amount of $82,000 has been set aside for pool operations in the 2018 budget, and funds from that account will be used to hire a consultant with expert knowledge about pool construction to determine the extent of the damage. The engineer will also look at the pool building, including the showers and roof, to see whether there are other significant problems that need to be addressed.

City officials said they plan to conduct a public forum to share information, discuss options, and seek input as to how to proceed.

In the meantime, the Waitsburg city pool is a good alternative for swimming activities this summer, according to city officials.

 

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