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| Project manager: Pool project may not be complete until September |
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2/22/2019
By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer
Montgomery County is in danger of going another summer without a community swimming pool based on projections from the project manager.
Project manager David Rhodes told a meeting of the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Commission last Friday that the aquatic center project may not be complete until September.
Rhodes said the hold-up has been getting permits through state agencies for the various parts of construction.
Commission Chairman David Charles said, however, that he is still hopeful that it can get the pool open before the end of the summer.
That will depend on expediting the permit process, he said.
Rhodes said that part of the delay has been the limited staffing at the offices that grant the permits. He speculated that early retirements due to the state’s pension crisis may be responsible.
Work crews are about to lay foundation to some parts of the aquatic center with installation of the pool itself expected around May 1, Rhodes said.
From there, the project will depend on the status of the permits, he said. Rhodes estimated that the permit process is running about 12 weeks behind normal schedule.
The aquatic center is being built next to the Clay Community Center off the Mt. Sterling Bypass.
The last remaining pool at the old location was closed because it was found unsafe during a routine inspection.
The old pool was deemed beyond repair, the Advocate reported in April 2017, and was closed for the summer. The community has been without a pool since that time.
When it’s complete the new pool will be a competition level eight lane structure with a splash pad designed for young children.
Parks and Rec Director Patrick Manning said that state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, R-Winchester, has agreed to help with the sale of the old pool property.
There is currently a restriction on the sale of the property because it was paid for with the assistance of a Land and Water grant.
Until that can be resolved, the sale will be difficult, commissioner/attorney Shelly Williams said previously.
Proceeds from the sale of the property would be used to offset some of the cost of the new pool. The commission projects spending about $2.1 million on the new pool. It is financing the project through a bank loan.
In other action, the commission:
• Discussed taking over Camargo City Park.
The City of Camargo has asked the parks and rec commission to take over the park, which had been falling into a state of disrepair.
The county has offered to provide equipment and inmate labor to assist with maintenance of the park, Manning said.
The park is technically owned by a private fire protection LLC that would have to agree to transfer ownership to the commission, Williams said.
She expressed some concern about taking over another city park and encouraged the commission to further discuss and consider the situation before deciding.
• Manning reported that replacement of the split-rail fence at Easy Walker Park has been progressing.
He said the dept. has been able to sell boards from the old fence to offset some of the cost of replacement.
• Awarded a bid to the Montgomery County High School girls’ soccer program for use of parks and rec facilities for Court Days fundraising.
The soccer program would receive 55 percent of the revenue with parks and rec receiving the other 45 percent.
• Was informed that Manning continues to apply for grants to help fund dept. projects.
• Was informed that Manning had met with Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Matt Thompson to go over use of facilities and the various options.
• Was updated on upcoming parks and rec dept. activities.
The spring soccer season is set to begin March 18 (weather pending), the spring baseball/softball registration deadline is March 17, Easter in the Park, sponsored by Ruth Hunt Candy, is scheduled for April 13, Fishing in the Park is scheduled for June 2 and the Ohio Regional Baseball Tournament 8-9-year-old coach-pitch tournament is scheduled for July 19-23 at Easy Walker.
The commission will meet again in regular session noon Friday, March 15, in the conference room at Mt. Sterling City Hall. Meetings are open to the public.
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