Group seeks pool funds

The Committee For Safe Swimming (CSS) is once again stepping up to help the Town of Plains repair the E.L. Johnson Memorial Pool.

Janice Hanson, president of the nonprofit organization, said they placed a symbolic thermometer at McGowan’s Grocery Store to show the fundraiser progress to the community. The thermometer was placed at the store last Monday and they’ve already received a $250 donation, in addition to the $20,000 the group had in its kitty.

Hanson said the group picked McGowan’s to show the thermometer because of the heavy traffic. She said that when the weather gets better, she might move it outside on Railroad Street. Letters requesting monetary help will be going out to residents and local businesses and she said they will be applying for federal, state and private grants.

The Plains swimming pool developed one or two leaks last summer and was losing 15,000 gallons of water every day, according to Plains Mayor Dan Rowan. The mayor estimated that it would take around $30,000, unless the pool has developed more leaks since last summer. He said there’s no way to know of additional leaks until the pool is filled and pressurized, and that won’t take place until March. The mayor said they’ll have to rip up five to eight feet of concrete to get to the leaking pipes. He plans to go out for bids in March, but to save money, he will utilize the town’s public works staff to take up the old concrete and haul it away.

The pool boiler was fixed last year at a cost of $25,000, but the technician who worked on it called it a “dinosaur” and said it would probably need replacing in the near future. The 80-foot by 45-foot pool was constructed in the 1970s, but as of 2002 has sustained numerous breakdowns. The CSS was created in 2002 specifically to help keep the pool running. Since then, it has given the town more than $140,000 for pool repairs.

The town budgeted $41,945 for the pool this year, but $20,000 goes to the eight lifeguards’ salaries and certification. Rowan would like to open the pool at the beginning of June, but needs help from the CSS. The group held a meeting two weeks ago with the mayor and others from the community to find out if there was any interest in looking into replacing the old pool with a new indoor facility, which could be open more than merely three months a year.

Rowan said the concrete aspect of the repair would be almost $13,000. Plumbing materials will be between $12,000 and $13,500 and plumber labor will be $3,200. The mayor said he appreciates the work the CSS does to help with the pool. “It’s amazing the amount of money they’ve been able to raise in the past,” said Rowan.

“CSS is working toward the goal of raising $50,000 for pool repairs for the 2019 swim season,” said Hanson, who also said the group will be selling truffles the first week of April as one of the fundraisers. Volunteers made 300 dozen truffles in 2011, raising $6,300 for the pool. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with the truffle project can contact Hanson at 826-3656. She feels that even though it’s a small community, people recognize the importance of the pool and will be generous.

CSS plans to have another meeting at the end of February or early March to continue looking into the possibility of building an indoor pool.

“I do feel like at some point you have to cry uncle and stop dumping money into an aged infrastructure, but there has to be some sort of pool open and if that means putting money into this as a band-aid until we can get a newer facility that requires less repair and maintenance then we will do whatever it takes to make that happen,” said CSS board member Erika Lawyer. “That’s why the thought of moving forward with a new pool that can be utilized year-round is so exciting,” she added. “It’s a huge endeavor, but when you are able to sell it as a 12-month asset, it’s easier to swallow.”