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Park Board proceeding toward normal pool season
Keeping their fingers crossed, the Greencastle Park Department officials are proceeding toward what is hoped will be a normal pool season this summer.
Dealing with a couple of change-order approvals at a special meeting last week, the Park Board also reviewed a timetable that suggests April 15 as the date on which the pool can be filled in anticipation of a Memorial Day weekend opening.
After filling the pool, the water needs to be tested multple times by the State Board of Health, while filling the pool early also allows time for the water to warm up.
After regrettably having to cancel the pool season last summer, Park Director Rod Weinschenk has remained positive about the swim season going off as scheduled this year.
Substantial completion of Phase II of the aquatic center renovation is forecast for April 16.
Among the change orders approved was one for Boyle Construction Management Inc. (BCMI) totaling $34,192 for the purchase and installation of three upright vertical aquatic features in the zero-depth area of the pool.
The features were included in the original plans but not selected as alternates at the time of the bid as the board preferred to wait and see how far their finances could go on the aquatic center renovation.
Landscape architect Kyle Lueken of HWC Engineering noted in his written report that the new features “may not arrive in time to get installed prior to opening the pool.”
However, Spear Corp. has confirmed that they can be installed even after the pool has opened.
“So you will get use of them this coming season,” Lueken added.
One of the features will include a bucket-type apparatus that will dump water on youngsters toward deeper water, while the other two are spray features similar to those found at the splash park.
Meanwhile, other change orders approved by the Park Board for Mammoth Inc. include $560.75 for hanging a sponsor plaque on the new bandshell and $606 for vertical door stops for the storage room and one of the family restrooms in the poolhouse. The door stops will create more usable space behind the doors in lieu of using floor stops, it was explained.
A change order for $3,009 was also approved to change the poolhouse ductwork material from galvanized to aluminum. While the work was bid as galvanized, it was discovered once the ceiling had been removed that the existing ductwork was aluminum.
It was explained that galvanized and aluminum ductwork can’t coexist without accelerating corrosion, so it was decided to continue with aluminum ductwork.
The HVAC contractor was given a copy of the original plans, Mayor Bill Dory noted, saying that he might not be aware of a change order made 30 years ago.
Meanwhile, Park Director Weinschenk said a hole in the roof of the bathhouse still needs to be repaired. However, he has not yet received any quotes back on the work, so it was not included among the change orders that necessitated a special meeting for approval.
Park Board President Cathy Merrell and board members Tim Trigg, Pete Meyer and Joanna Muncie (via Zoom) were all present for the brief meeting.
The Park Board will next meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 at City Hall.