While Winamac Town Council members didn’t vote to show support for a proposed community pool Tuesday evening, they were provided with some new figures associated with the project.
Town Councilwoman and Pool Committee Founder Judy Heater shared that construction costs have doubled since they initially received figures a few years ago.
According to an estimate provided by the architecture and engineering firm Martin Riley, the construction of a pool and a necessary mechanical building would cost approximately $954,489. After adding the cost for architecture and engineering services, it brings the total up to $1,145,386.
That number doesn’t include fees associated with a hiring a pool inspector or performing soil testing and surveying. It also doesn’t incorporate the cost of chemicals, equipment or long-term maintenance.
As of December 31st, 2018, the Winamac Pool Committee had collected approximately $149,145.65. A portion of that money came from community members and then the Pulaski County Community Foundation provided a match of 50 cents for every dollar donated.
Heater noted that the Community Foundation has about $500,000 in matching funds remaining that that can be provided through 2020 or until the funds run out.
Heater added that the Committee is also counting on a $150,000 pledge that the town made in the past.
When asked to comment on maintenance costs, Heater noted that the proposed new pool would be a bit smaller than the original and since it is going to have new equipment, it won’t require as much initial upkeep as the old pool.
They used to allocate about $40,000 toward annual pool maintenance and Heater said they only used about $30,000 each year. She expects the new pool’s maintenance costs to be significantly lower. Currently, about $10,000 of the money collected through the Community Foundation has been set aside for maintenance.
Heater said the committee plans to continue fundraising but the lack of town support has put them in a precarious position. They don’t feel comfortable seeking funds from people without being able to assure them it will be spent on a pool.
Ultimately, there was a general consensus amongst the council members that more concrete information about long-term maintenance costs need to be provided before any decisions can be made.
The Pool Committee members were asked to bring back solid figures for how much annual maintenance would be. They were also asked to check into the existing state statutes surrounding pools and the number of lifeguards that would be required.
Additional information from the joint session between the Winamac Town Council and Pool Committee members will be shared in future stories.
