Swimming Pool Update - Part 2

At the June 6, 2006 City Commission meeting a public hearing was held to discuss proposed repairs to the swimming pool. No action was taken and the repair of the swimming pool was tabled until the July 11, 2006 meeting, where a quote from Mid-America Pool Renovation, Inc. (MAPRI) was approved 4 to 1, for the installation of an INTER-GLASS® lining for the city’s main and kiddy pools. The cost of the lining was nearly $88,000 and it came with a limited 25-year warranty. (Other options were discussed, but the City Commissioners chose what they thought was the best solution and value.)

At the request of the city, a representative of MAPRI was on site (February 1, 2018) to inspect the pool and to gather information for a repair estimate. On March 7, 2018, the City Commission unanimously approved a $17,380 Construction Agreement with MAPRI to make the repairs. In an email from one of their project managers, dated April 28, 2018, the city was informed that the repair work was scheduled for the week of May 21, 2018. Then in a follow up email from the project manager, dated May 18, 2018 – the city was notified that the scheduled work could not be performed until the “Fall of 2018.” So, from about 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18th until about 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22nd it seemed as if the pool might not be open for the 2018 season. Fortunately, MAPRI was able to reschedule the repairs for the last week of May.   

Contacting other contractors was discussed. But even if another company would agree to make the repairs (on real short notice) it would likely void the warranty AND cost the city more, if not much more. Because for the first 10-years after the installation of the liner MAPRI covered the cost of the repairs, which was minimal. After year ten, the warranty shifted to a cost-share arrangement that is pro-rated to the original contract amount. This means that the city is still only paying for part of the actual cost of the repairs. So, once again, even if another contractor would agree to work on the city’s pool, it is unlikely that it would be at or even close to the warranty rate – which is currently 25% city and 75% MAPRI. There was no reason to doubt the original repair schedule as MAPRI has always lived up to its commitments to the city. And even now, they are only delaying the repairs by a week – which is unfortunate - but given their circumstances is completely understandable. (The pool will open two weeks later than normal.) 

FYI: The repairs scheduled for next week include a ‘gel coating,’ which was not available until a few years ago. This coating reportedly prevents moisture from penetrating the fiberglass lining, which is believed to be the root of the problem. In addition, the gel coat is also supposed to extend the life of the INTER-GLASS® liner and give it a shine.

The swimming pool originally opened on Sunday, May 27, 1923, and has thus been in existence for 34,695 days, or 94 years, 11 months, and 26 days. I recently heard someone say that 94 years, 11 months, and 26 days is the new 82 years, 9 months, and 4 days.

The picture below is from the February 1, 2018 pool inspection by MAPRI.