Pool schedule pondered (4/8/04)

The summer schedule for the Portland Pool topped discussion at Tuesday’s Portland Park Board meeting.

The board decided to take information presented at that meeting under advisement and vote on the pool schedule at its Tuesday, May 4 meeting. The board plans to meet at 7 p.m. in the city street department building on South Wayne Street.

Pool manager Jennifer Rathbun suggested that pool hours this summer be from noon to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Last year, the pool was open daily from 12:30 to 8 p.m.

She also suggested that two-week sessions of swim lessons be held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Rathbun proposed adult swim times be held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The board also discussed advertising water aerobic classes held at the pool. Rathbun suggested holding the classes from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Also Tuesday, board members discussed speaking to local civic organizations about volunteering to staff the concession stand at the pool.

Last year, there was no concession stand at the pool, board president Neil Medler said Wednesday morning.

Also, board vice president Donald Gillespie proposed that the board spend up to $2,500 on new outdoor furniture for the pool. The pool currently doesn’t have outdoor furniture, Harker said this morning.

Pool admission fees were not discussed Tuesday but are expected to be decided at the May meeting, Medler said.

Also Tuesday, street and park department superintendent Jeff Harker told the board he has replaced the flume on the water slide at the pool.

The new pieces are replacing sections of the current slide that were cracked. The slide is still under warranty, so the city will only pay for shipping of the replacement parts.

Harker also said that park department employees will begin painting the pool next week.

The pool was painted last summer before it opened, but most of that paint chipped off last summer, Medler said.

Next week, the pool will be pressure washed and sealed, cracks will be filled, then it will be painted.

The board plans to look for other options to maintain the pool so that painting is not required yearly.

In other business, the board agreed to renew lifeguard licenses totaling $180 for nine full-time lifeguards.

Also Tuesday, board members:

•Discussed drainage problems in Haynes Park. The current tile “is old and full of roots,” Medler said. In the fall, park department employees will lay a new drainage tile in the park.

The tile to be replaced runs through the park from Middle Street to Western Avenue, Harker said, adding that they also plan to connect additional drainage pipes to the new tile to help drain areas throughout the park that have problems with standing water.

Quotes are being collected for materials for the project, Medler said.

•Approved a request from officials from the Jay Community Center to use the pee wee football fields at Portland Memorial Park for soccer games this month and in May. Fourth through sixth graders are taking part in the soccer league.

•Heard Harker report renovations to the restroom building in Memorial Park, totaling $6,303.51, are complete.

The dilapidated roof and the outdated electrical system in the building were replaced.

•Discussed seeking quotes to replace the chain link fence around the kiddie play area at Haynes Park.

“The chain link fence is in horrible condition,” Medler said.

Board members plan to contact Kwanis Club members, who currently maintain that area, to see if they want to pay for the new fencing.

•Discussed obtaining estimates to build handicapped accessible restrooms at Haynes Park.

Medler said the board is not sure if an addition can be added to the current facility or if a new building will need to be constructed to accommodate the planned restrooms.[[In-content Ad]]