Common Council gets update as city swimming pool repair project costs approach $2 million

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

Olean aldermen got updates earlier this week on the status of the War Veterans Park swimming pool and splash pad projects.

In July, Mayor Amy B. Sherburne vetoed the common council’s approval of a $1.1 million swimming pool project. The council overrode the veto in August. In the meantime, additional damage to the pool walls and floor was found.

The mayor told the council on Tuesday that additional documents needed to be signed for the pool work by Patterson-Stevens Inc., Tonawanda. She said the city would sign the documents until information on the cost of borrowing was finalized.

Alderman John Crawford, D-Ward 5, outlined potential costs of the project and grants that will reduce the city’s costs. 

With additional costs on top of the $1.1 million base bid, the project has risen to about $1.7 million, including  $148,000 for wall repairs and $53,550 for the floor, Crawford said. Another $100,000 for inspection fees and a 20% contingency brings the total cost to around $2 million. It’s not clear whether that includes a pool cover, which had been missing for several years.

The pool was closed in 2024 after the Cattaraugus County Health Department was unable to approve the pool’s failing sand filter system. Bids for the project were not advertised until this year.

Alderman David Anastasia, D-Ward 7, urged the council to proceed with the pool project before costs rise any further. “Let’s stop fooling around,” he said. 

“People in the community have asked for it and want it. Some do, some don’t. A majority of the phone calls I receive want it. So let’s not screw around anymore and let’s sign the contracts that need to be signed, and let’s get the ball rolling. We’re just delaying, delaying, delaying, and making the price go up,” Anastasia said.

Crawford insisted the council wait until there was clear financial data on costs for borrowing.

“I came up with around $1.3 million worth of possible funding that is available to us,” Crawford said. “So that still leaves the city on the hook for about $700,000 to renovate that pool.” 

The other thing to consider is the “decommissioning and the elimination of the pool.” That option, Crawford noted, would cost the city between $400,000 and $500,000. Plus the city has already accumulated up to $100,000 in engineering costs. None of these costs would be covered by the grants.

It would appear there is not a lot of difference between what it will ultimately cost the city to repair the pool or to fill it in and cover it with concrete.

Crawford said the city would have to bond for the entire cost with a one-year bond anticipation note. Once the  grants are received when the project is complete, they will be subtracted from the amount the city needs to borrow over 10-15 years. He encouraged aldermen to “make sure that this is the direction the council wants to go.”

Alderwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, chairman of the Finance Committee, asked Community Development Director Keri Kerper to provide financing information to the council prior to the next committee meeting.

THE MAYOR also updated the council on the remedial; work taking place at the splash pad, adjacent to the city pool.

A meeting is set for Oct. 13 with Jason Foote of CPL, the engineering firm the city hired to oversee the splash pad project, Sherburne said. In the meantime, remedial work has been halted over questions about the new concrete and drainage concerns.

The Mayor emphasized that no concrete should be poured until all pipes have been properly tested to prevent recurring issues.

The splash pad has been years in the making. Three years ago the council paid $800,000 for the splash pad components. Last year, PV Paving & Concrete, Smethport, Pa., was the low bidder on the project. 

However, the concrete work was labeled deficient by the city because of an improper slope which did not allow for correct drainage. PV Paving & Concrete and CPL agreed to make it right.

Last week much of the concrete surrounding the splash pad components was broken up and removed. Sherburne said that leaks had been detected and there were other concerns about drainage she wanted cleared up before the concrete deck was poured.

Public Works Director James Sprague said he had reviewed the plans for the new concrete deck and did not have any significant comments.

Sherburne also said she met with PV Paving and Concrete owner Zach Nelson on Tuesday to discuss where the company was at and what’s the holdup with the lawyers.

“There, there are definitely some concerns about the weather and concrete,” Sherburne said “You know, we have to just take this as we go. Mother Nature being a factor of this, and how far are they going to be able to get? And are we ready for concrete, or do we need to wait until the spring for concrete?”

The mayor emphasized that this corrective work will be done without cost to the city. She said a lack of monthly reports to the city from CPL led to the construction problems.

“At no point did they tell us that the shabby work was occurring till we actually went down ourselves and inspected it, and that was in July,” the mayor said. “And we knew at that point we were in trouble with them, and that is when all of that was discussed — the reporting, the inspection — and we hope moving forward, it’s clear that we aren’t going to tolerate that no reporting to us with inspection.”