Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
An ad hoc committee tasked with presenting the Clintonville Common Council with a plan for the city’s outdoor swimming pool hopes to have a recommendation ready in July.
Damaged by fire in December 2015 and in need of repair even before then, the pool has been closed for two seasons. The city hired Beaver Dam-based Water Technologies Inc. in April 2016 to develop potential options for the pool.
In January, Water Technologies presented a plan that would cost more than $5 million. It included features such as faux rock and diving platforms, drop slide, splash pad, waterslide tower and flumes, lap pool, new bathhouse and more. A new pool, without many of the other features, using some of the existing facility was estimated to cost up to $2 million.
The committee voted Monday to direct Water Technologies to provide the cost to rehab the existing pool and to provide a stripped down version of the $5 million plan. The committee asked for the information by July 18 so it could review the material July 26 and prepare a recommendation for the Common Council.
Justin McAuly, the city’s park and recreation director, said that to demolish the existing pool and return the site to turf would cost $42,000 to $50,000.
“Remember, the job of this committee is to get a plan with figures and present it to the council,” said committee member Ryan Rockey, who said he would like to see a referendum on the issue.
Committee chairman Brad Rokus agreed.
“We need to have a vision to present to the council for their support, and we need to know the tax impact,” he said. “We want to know if people are willing to pay to support a pool that is affordable and will serve the community.”
“We need to sell this as a destination for the Clintonville area,” committee member Sue Ashlimann said. “Not everyone wants to swim in a lake. And we need plans to go to the corporate world with this.”
Some area residents voiced their support of maintaining an outdoor pool.
Colesha Kabble said she thought the pool was an asset for Clintonville.
“I know there are a lot of other issues in the city, but we need something for kids, and I hope something gets done,” she said.