Pool main topic of discussion for council

Village administrator states pool has leaked 1.7 million gallons of water

NEW BREMEN — The future of the village’s pool was discussed Monday night at the village of New Bremen council meeting.

Village Administrator Brent Richter told councilors it’s been determined that there are six underground lines that are leaking and the pool itself lost 1.7 million gallons of water since the pool first began leaking and the problem was detected.

“They won’t hold any pressure,” said Richter.

The search for the source of the leak began in June.

The village had the Astro Pool Company, the company that installed the pool, out the last couple of weeks and they were able to find where the leaks were.

Next steps include possibly hiring American Leak Detection to put argon in the lines and further pinpoint the exact location of the leak.

“That could help us from tearing up everything,” said Richter.

Replacing the lines will be important too as the current lines are made up of Schedule 40 pipe, a pipe that was the standard when the pool was put in.

“The Schedule 40 was the norm back in the 90s. It’s more of a residential thickness,” said Richter.

Schedule 80 is a thicker pipe and the one that the village would

use when they replace the lines. Richter said Schedule 80 pipe is the kind that the village uses for their water lines that are buried.

The main drain is a major leak and Richter said that would mean having to dig up the deep end of the pool to access it.

He said the other leaks are about three or four deep underneath the concrete.

Councilor Don Kuck said once work is scheduled, the village should move as quickly as they can to have the pool ready for the season.

“We don’t need to have the residents upset because we’ve got the pool torn up because we have

plenty of time as of now,” said Kuck.

In other business, council:

• Elected councilman Jacob Larger as the new president of council. Kuck, the former president, was nominated but he declined the offer, saying it was time for someone else to take over.

• Heard Richter discuss other topics during his village administrator’s report. He announced that the new computer for the servers in the police/EMS IT room were installed last week and that the village will be replacing light bulbs for the water tower.

• Heard Mayor Bob Parker announced the total fines, fees and forfeitures for December at $3,005.

• Completed and passed

the third reading on Resolution 2020-12-15, a management agreement between the village and the YMCA of Greater Dayton to run the village pool. The agreement stays the same as last year’s fee which is $13,000.

• Completed and passed the third reading on Ordinance 2020-12-21 and discussed the 2021 cost of living adjustment. The cost of living adjustment as read will be a 1% adjustment for the upcoming year. Councilman Dennis Burnell mentioned the possibility of the cost of living adjustment be higher than 1%. After discussion, council agreed to review the adjustment in the spring after they have a better understanding of what their financial situation will be for the year.