Built in 1952, water fun facility feeling its age
Emmaus wades into effort to make sure kids can keep going to pool
If the Emmaus Community Pool complex were a person, it would be eligible for Social Security and Medicare.
Built in 1952 and reconstructed in 1971, the main pool and the wading pool have been feeling their age in the last several years and have required repairs.
On Monday, Borough Council voted to accept a $40,000 bid to have Aquatics Facility Design of Millersburg, Dauphin County, do a pool feasibility study, which include core borings and pressure testing of the infrastructure.
The study should determine the structural soundness of the main pool and the wading pool.
Council chose Aquatics Facility Design out of four bidders not just because it was the low bidder but because it specializes in this field, officials said.
“Our biggest concern was the structure elements of our pools,” Councilwoman Shana Baumgartner said.
The study will also look at such things as pool operations, finances, programming and design, according to borough Manager Shane Pepe, but he agreed that the pools’ structural integrity was the main concern.
Pepe said it’s rumored that the children’s pool sits on top of an older children’s pool. It has had problems with leaks.
The pools’ filtration system exploded in May 2016, injuring two employees, and both pools have had problems with pumps.
“We want to be proactive,” Pepe said. “We don’t want to have a $5 million boondoggle where you have to make a decision whether or not we want to continue providing that service to the community.”
Plus, the study could make Emmaus eligible for state grant money for pool projects, he said.
“Members of the public are going to be invited to attend meetings, give feedback, tell us what they want, tell us their concerns,” Pepe said.
In 2018, the pool brought in about $4,000 after expenses, according to Pepe. It usually collects about $110,000 in revenue and costs the borough roughly $90,000.
In other business, council members gave great reviews to Emmaus’ first Dumpster Day, held Oct. 5 at the Emmaus Fire Training Grounds off Kline’s Lane.
Residents brought all manner of items they wanted to dispose of, including old tires, electronics, car batteries and appliances. Fees were charged for some items.
Organizers counted 558 vehicles coming through, about 250 more than anticipated. Drivers had to show identification to prove they were Emmaus residents.
The borough rescheduled the household hazardous waste disposal event for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Fire Training Grounds.
It will accept such items as fertilizers; insect sprays; paint products such as paint, stain, stripper and thinner; and chemicals such as heavy-duty cleansers. It will also accept materials such as batteries, compact fluorescent lamps and thermometers.