Holtville pursuing grant to redo city pool
HOLTVILLE — This city will be applying for a $178,000 grant, which, if awarded, will be used to completely renovate its public pool.
The Holtville City Council on Monday unanimously agreed to authorize an application for the grant, the Proposition 65 Parks Grant.
Through this grant, which is under the state’s Per Capita Program, Holtville was allocated $178,000 to be used for parks projects.
“So we are entitled to that money,” City Manager Nick Wells said.
The application process requires approval from the City Council.
The grant, however, requires a 25 percent local match from the city.
“There might be some other sources where we could offset some of that match,” Wells said.
The city has discussed seeking donations from the county, the Imperial Irrigation District or local civic groups to assist in paying the match.
Additionally, Mayor Mike Goodsell asked if the city could possibly approach the Holtville Unified School District to help cover the match.
“They do use the pool,” Goodsell said.
The city pool, which is located next to Samaha Park, is officially called the Gene Layton Memorial Pool.
A city report said significant degradation has occurred to the pool since it was constructed more than 60 years ago.
Necessary refurbishment and upgrades have been discussed for several years by the city’s Water Department staff, which is tasked with its upkeep.
“Since the pool was built, a lot of the concrete work and whatnot has never been replaced,”
Wells said. “They’ve re-plastered it every few years, but, at this point, they’re saying, ‘Hey, you really gotta start over on this thing.’”
Wells said that, with the grant funds, the city will rip the current pool out and redo it.
The amount of the grant is in line with a low bid that the city has received for reconstructing the pool.
The city solicited bids last spring and was able to negotiate with one bidder to do the project for about $175,000.
The project will be rebid if the grant comes through, Wells said.