Holbrook Council Approves Swimming Pool Renovations

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   A total of $199,311 in swimming pool renovations was approved by the Holbrook City Council Tuesday evening.
   Work to be completed includes removal of the existing pool liner, leveling the pool, removal and replacement of interior pool plaster, repair of broken water lines and gutter tile, replacement of decks around the pool, installation of a new racing lane and pressure testing of all plumbing.
   Parks and Recreation Supervisor Napo Baldonado explained that the liner currently in the pool is cracked and leaking, and has been doing so for many years. He also told the council that several years ago the ground underneath the deep end of the pool heaved, causing the pool to be uneven.
   “The pool heaved, but the concrete around the pool is sinking,” he explained.
   According to Baldonado, leveling of the pool could wait, as could replacement of the decks around the pool, but it would be more efficient to do all the work at once. He also explained to the council that because the pool is not level, the filtration system does not work as intended.
   The system is designed for water in the gutters of the pool to flow into the filtration system, but since the pool is uneven, it’s impossible to keep the gutters filled with water and flowing through the filtration mechanism.
   Baldonado explained that his main concern with the pool, though, is the crack in the liner that allows water to escape. He told the council that city staff members have been able to repair the crack just enough to keep the pool filled and usable each year, but there is going to come a time when such repairs will no longer be enough and the pool will not be useable.
   “We may lose it altogether,” he remarked.
   Councilman Kent Darris asked how much a brand new pool would cost as compared to the repairs being requested.
   Baldonado estimated that building a new pool would cost the city at least $3 million. He also noted that removing the cracked liner and putting a new plaster interior in the pool would cost $121,111.
   Councilman Charles Haussman asked how much a new liner would cost.
   “We decided to go with the original plaster inside the pool, not a liner, because a liner was off the charts price-wise. We can’t guarantee the plaster won’t crack, but it’s the lowest cost alternative,” said Baldonado.
   Council members unanimously approved proceeding with the work, including leveling the pool, as long as the contractor would provide a warranty for the work. The council also awarded a contract to Aquatic Builders of Chandler for the work.
   Vice Mayor Cynthia Stuart and Councilman Phil Cobb asked Baldonado to look into any Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements that may need to be met at the pool.
   Of the total $199,311 expenditure approved, $105,311 will come out of the current fiscal year budget, and the remainder will be included in next year’s budget. The $105,311 is part of capital funds remaining after city officials leased vehicles and equipment rather than purchasing them outright.