OTHS pool renovation could top $1 million

The cost to rebuild the century-old swimming pool at Ottawa Township High School could top $1 million, Superintendent Matt Winchester reported at Monday's school board meeting.

Informally known as the Pirate Puddle, the pool was closed before the start of the school year after cracks, corrosion and crumbling brick and concrete walls that have broken loose from one another were discovered during a maintenance inspection.

Winchester said the engineering firm which evaluated the pool recommended the pool's glazed brick liner be removed and replaced with a concrete liner. The drain gutter also would be removed and replaced with a new gutter overflow system. Those improvements plus a new pump and filter systems would cost an estimated $156,000.

However, additional necessary work including plumbing, ventilation, mechanical, controls, electric and structural changes would boost the total cost from $800,000 to more than $1 million, Winchester said.

Even then, the rebuilt pool would still not be regulation size and possibly be slightly reduced, he said.

Winchester said the reconstruction would need to be evaluated to see if it qualified as a "life safety" project. Those projects typically are financed by selling bonds, which are paid off through property tax revenue.

He said if it did not qualify for life safety funds the project would be a huge undertaking for the district, which already is operating at a $3 million deficit. That deficit is being covered by the sale of other bonds which are funneled into a "working cash" fund.

Winchester asked the board to discuss the options.

Instead, Board President Tim Creedon delegated the issue to a subcommittee of the Deficit Reduction/Revenue Enhancement Committee that will begin meeting again starting in October.

Winchester said he was thankful that in the meantime, the swim team is able to practice at the Ottawa and Streator YMCAs.

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OTHS pool renovation could top $1 million