Pool needs major maintenance

The swimming pool in Aurora will be closed indefinitely due to maintenance issues.
Trent Thompson, director of the Aurora Parks and Recreation Department,  reported the dreary news last week, just day before the traditional Memorial Day opening for the summer activity.

After 25 years of service, the pool appears to be in desperate need of renovations. Officials made plans to open the pool this year and try to limp through until fall when some much-needed maintenance could be done.

After filling the pool this month, Thompson and his staff discovered serious leaks in the pump and underground piping that supplies the circulation jets. The leaks amounted to an 80,000 gallon loss over three days.

“The city’s pool dates to 1982-83 and has served the community well for 25 years,” said Thompson. “However, even with regular monthly maintenance, equipment systems eventually fail.”

Due to a lack of funding for renovations, city officials made the decision to close the pool for an indefinite period of time.

Funding for the pool comes from the city and the parks and recreation department. The parks department receives a portion of its funding from a tax on real estate, which amounts to approximately 14 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Last year, this amounted to $72,175.08 for the entire parks department, which is less than one-fourth of the operating budget needed, said Thompson. The balance of the budget is made up from the city’s general fund.

Thompson noted the city’s parks department is responsible for one of the largest per capita park land areas in the State of Missouri. The city’s pool is only one feature in a parks system covering over 200 acres in a town with a population of about 7,000.

The work is currently accomplished with a staff of two full time and one parttime worker. The remaining staff are seasonal helpers. 

The city provides supplementary funding for the pool as a service to the community, noted Thompson. The pool misses breaking even by 50 percent each year, due to the high cost of chemicals, monthly maintenance costs, standard operating costs and the cost of skilled lifeguards who must be state certified. The cost of the water alone to fill and maintain the pool is over $4,000.

These costs are offset by he daily entry fees, but, in an attempt to make the pool accessible and affordable to everyone, the fees are artificially low--again bringing in only 50 percent of the required funds.

Major renovation costs must be funded by the city and the public, noted Thompson.
“One of the most frequently asked questions is about funding in the city,” said Thompson. “Since the City of Aurora does not own its own utilities (power and water), the city does not have a steady, reliable source of revenue to help fund projects, hire police and fire personnel or fund public works and purchase of equipment.”

“We are at the mercy of an ever changing sales tax from goods purchased in Aurora and property taxes,” said Thompson.

“So buy in Aurora!” he interjected.

 “It will be up to the public to decide if a new pool facility is something they are willing to fund,” said Thompson. “Pool engineers, designers and contractors have already been out to look at the pool. All option are on the table for now, from simply repairing the pool to a usable state to a toral rebuild of a new water park facility.”

“If we simply repair, we are using a 25-year-old pool that could present problems for us again in the near future. The time may be at hand to look to the future for a water park in Aurora,” he added.

He suggested local citizens should contact members of the Aurora Park Board and the city council to let them know ideas, wants and wishes concerning the future of the pool.

Members of the park board include:  Kirstin Bloss (president), David Walker, Jennifer Woody, Virginia Swaim, Mike McKay, Thomas Rysted, Greg Moore, Brad Barnes, Jesse Weathermon and Theresa Pettit (alternate).
Members of the city council include:  Steve Kahre (mayor), Dan Broyles, Mike Zay, Mike Bloss and Gene Anderson.

Still want to swim?

Hailey Hall, a third year lifeguard at the Aurora pool, is working on a program called Pool Houns. The program plans including taking children who wish to go swimming to and from the Mt. Vernon and Monett city pools around 11:30 a.m. and returning at about 4:15 p.m.

Hall is CPR certified and also has her babysitting certification. “Since I am now unemployed, starting my own business sounded great!,” said Hall. The cost will be $10 a child plus the cost of admission and snacks. Space is limited so call to set up your pool dates.

If you are interested or have more questions about Pool Houns, call Hall at 417-229-1955 or 417-678-3695. Swimming lessons are also available for all ages and references are available.