By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
The Olean Common Council is expected to talk about whether to proceed with repairs and rehabilitation at the War Veterans Park swimming pool during committee meetings Tuesday.
Mayor Amy B. Sherburne said Friday that a report on the condition of the walls of the swimming pool has been completed and will be available to aldermen before the Youth and Recreation Committee meets.
Youth and Recreation coordinator Kris Shewairy reported substantial damage to the pool walls at the council’s May 19 meeting. The pool hasn’t been used in two summers, closed by the Cattaraugus County Health Department due to a failure of the original sand filter.
Public outcry over the possible closing of the city pool led aldermen to give the go-ahead for repairs and rehabilitation of the pool. Last year the city received a $800,000 state grant for municipal pool repairs.
The recent low bid for the original repairs and rehabilitation of the pool was $1,093,000. It did not include the cost to repair damage to the walls of the 45-year-old swimming pool that was discovered in early May.
In an interview with the Olean Star Friday, the mayor said city officials and the contractor that submitted the low bid for pool repairs “are concerned about the integrity of the walls behind the tile.” It would be very expensive if the tile needed to be replaced, she added.
“We’re going to present the (pool) findings on Tuesday.” Sherburne said. “It’s their decision if they want to move forward and receive the state grant and have the rest of the work done.”
The mayor had no immediate estimate of the additional cost above the $1,093,000 bid for the original pool filter and other repairs.
Sherburne doesn’t have a specific recommendation for the aldermen on how to proceed with the pool project in light of the additional repairs that have recently come to city officials’ attention.
“I think we have to take a step back,” Sherburne said. “We need to get a grant and hope it covers most of the cost. The cost of materials has gone up. We have to consider whether we can afford this. Can we really afford a project of this magnitude?”
With the project coming in at a much higher price than expected, it may not be in the city’s best interest, the mayor said.
It will be up to the aldermen to decide if they want to move forward in receiving the grant and having the rest of the work done, Sherburne said.
Meanwhile, no opening date has been set for the new splash park adjacent to the city pool, which is substantially done. City officials are hoping to have it open by mid-July, the mayor said.
Sherburne said there are some missing parts that are awaiting delivery before the splash park is completed.
The Youth and Recreation committee delayed a decision last meeting on an admission price for the splash park. Councilman John Crawford, D-Ward 5, is proposing $5 for two hours.
