Commission to revisit city pool issues

Friday, September 4, 2009
A group of youngsters enjoy the cool water of the Fort Scott City Pool earlier this summer. The Fort Scott City Commission will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday night to discuss possible options for the future of the faclity. (Tribune file photo)

The Fort Scott City Commission will be holding a work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday to revisit discussions regarding the renovation of the Fort Scott Municipal Pool.

Kale Nelson, co-convener of the committee formerly known as Aquavision, said the committee will be visiting with the commission about the needs for a new pool in Fort Scott as well as funding opportunities.

"We're going to discuss what type of funding options there are and what type of things the commission is willing to support," Nelson said.

According to Nelson, the plans have been scaled back a bit from the previous attempt in 2006, when voters denied a city sales tax increase to fund the project. He said the plans will be determined by funding and direction from the commission as far as what needs should be addressed.

"There could be literally hundreds of plans for amenities to the pool," Nelson said.

Although the sales tax increase was denied, Nelson said the committee is still sticking with the charge which was given to them by the citizens.

"The original charge by the community ... was for Fort Scott to have an updated and useable indoor/outdoor facility," Nelson said. "The goal is still the same ... we need a new aquatics center. This pool is close to being too old for use."

The pool was built in 1936 and underwent a major renovation in the early 1970's. The renovation included updates to the recirculation system and process piping, replacement of the underwater lights, replacement of the pool deck, and some renovation to the bathhouse interior.

A facility evaluation performed by Larkin Aquatics in October 2006 reported a water loss of approximately 125,000 gallons per day when the pool is first put in operation each season and that the loss is reduced to approximately 40,000 gallons per day once the subsoil surrounding the pool structure becomes saturated.

Other issues pointed out in the evaluation included the poor condition of the floor of the pool basin and a significant water loss from the pool presenting possibility of subgrade soil erosion beneath the pool structure.

The study also stated that a hammer test of the pool basin indicated numerous areas of voids beneath the pool slab or delamination of the concrete. Also noted in the report were some of the wet-niche underwater lights were leaking an could present a risk of electric shock.

"The City of Fort Scott has an aquatic facility that is rich in history and is deserving of attention," the report said. "The facility has done well by greatly exceeding its expected life and continuing to serve the community as best it is able."

The work session is open to the public and will be held in the Commission Room at City Hall, 1 E. 3rd St.