Drainage issues may delay pool opening

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Last Updated on May 20, 2016 by cassnetwork

towerparkpool_2015The Logansport Parks Board’s pool committee says there’s more work that needs to be done before the Muehlhausen Park Aquatic Center (formerly the Tower Park Pool) can open for the summer.

The group heard an update Tuesday night from the project manager, Randall Miller, during a committee meeting that lasted two hours.

City council members Terry Doran and Dave Morris attended the meeting, along with parks board members Beth Myers, Lynne Ness, Chris Martin, Duane Ullom and Mike McCord, parks superintendent Rich Brewer and several members of the parks department staff.

The parks board voted to close the pool after the 2014 season, but in January 2015, at the State of the City and County luncheon, then-mayor Ted Franklin announced a plan to renovate the pool.

The city council appropriated $400,000 for Randall Miller and Associates to begin the rehabilitation project. The original goal was to have the project finished in time for a re-dedication on August 17, 2015, the 60th anniversary of the pool’s 1955 opening.

Many volunteers worked on the project, but a rainy summer and unexpected issues delayed the project’s completion.

In September, the council gave final approval to an additional $450,000 for the project.

The city opened the pool and held a re-dedication on September 26.

Park board members say there’s a list of things that still need to be addressed, including suspected drainage and flooring issues in the girls shower room, a booster pump for the splash pad, electrical needs to the basketball court and shelter and a phone hookup.

Board members also expressed concerns about ventilation between the roof and ceiling of the bathhouse.

Project manager Randal Miller gave a lengthy overview of the project at Tuesday’s meeting and agreed that there are still items that need to be addressed. Miller said his team was responsible for the pool and splash pad, but that the city and volunteers handled the bathhouse.

Park employees planned to test the drains in the girls shower room this week, and Miller proposed using a camera to check the drains if necessary. He said the drains had been professionally cleaned twice during the project and he was told they were working.

Myers plans to attend the council’s finance committee meeting on Monday, as additional funds would have to be appropriated by the council.

Miller told the board members the cost to open the pool would be about $2,700 and closing the pool at the end of the season would cost $1,800.

An opening date of June 4 had previously been announced, but will likely be pushed back.

Cass County Online