City swimming pool survey complete, mayor says cost estimate increases to $1.7 million

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

The estimate for repairs at the City of Olean’s swimming pool in War Veterans Park have climbed to about $1.7 million, $600,000 above the initial $1.1 million bid.

A report on a sounding survey of the 47-year-old pool’s walls and floor by the engineering firm CPL posted on the city’s website on Tuesday showed more than 500 square feet of suspected distress.

Estimated concrete repair costs are $201,550, the report states. Adding $374,500 for finish replacement and a winter pool cover brings preliminary construction estimates to $1,669,427. 

Another $40,310 is recommended for a contingency for additional repairs to the pool shell if needed. That brings the potential cost to $1,709,737.

The Common Council approved the $1.1 million bid from Patterson-Stevens Inc., Tonawanda earlier this summer.

In an interview Tuesday with the Olean Star, Mayor Amy B. Sherburne said she shared the report last week with Aldermen Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4 and David Anastasia, D-Ward 7.

“I let them know at that time that I wanted to be transparent with the public so that they have all the information that they need,” Sherburne said.

The mayor said she would not be making a recommendation to the council on whether to proceed with the pool repairs. “That is not for me to recommend,”{ she said. “This is for me to give  all the information to the council, which is the voting body of how we spend our money. That’s my role in this. This is not a project that I sought.”

The Cattaraugus County Health Department refused to certify the pool’s failing sand filter for the 2024 summer swimming season. The pool has sat vacant since then, without a cover.

Last year, the state gave the city a $705,000 grant for the municipal swimming pool repairs which required a match from the city. That means the city’s cost could be $1 million or more, which would require borrowing over a 15-year period, the mayor said 

If the council decides to proceed with the pool repairs, would the mayor veto it again? The council overrode that veto by a 6-0 margin.

Sherburne said she would not veto a decision by the council to proceed with the pool repair project now that the full scope of the work is known. 

“No,” she said. “My veto was simply to put the brakes on. We needed that report to make a decision. That was my goal. Now it’s up to them (council), with all the pieces of the puzzle, to make a decision on whether they think our budget will be able to support the bond over the course of 15 years.” 

Here’s a link to an update on the pool by the city: https://cityofolean.gov/pool-update/

Council President Lawrence “JR” Bennion Jr., R-Ward 1, noted that the CPL survey added just over $200,000 for concrete repairs to the walls and floor of the pool. Nearly $375,000 had been added to the base bid of $1.1 million to replace the concrete finish of the pool deck and purchase a winter pool cover.

“The CLP survey added only about $201,000 for the pool wall and floor repairs,” Bennion told the Olean Star Wednesday morning. 

The way the report was presented by the Mayor’s Office makes it clear “they are not in favor of it” because of the cost, Bennion said.

There was no media blast on the proposed new video surveillance system or roof repairs at the Bartlett House, Bennion noted.  

He is among the members of the Common Council who have advocated the use of the city’s bed tax to help fund part of the cost of the pool repairs. “This (project) would fall under economic tourism,” Bennion said. Additional state grants may also be available for the project.

Bennion suggested asking the city’s new grant writer — hired with bed tax money — to seek additional grants to further reduce the costs to city taxpayers.

The council president said that he feels once the city pool and splash pad are both operational, it will drive up usage of both facilities.

The issue will be on the agenda for the council’s next committee meeting next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, repairs are underway on the splash pad by PV Paving, Smethport, Pa. The mayor’s office negotiated with the contractor to remove concrete that was deemed to be deficient and replace it by November.