The Jefferson Municipal Pool’s two sand filters are the City’s new top priority to replace before next summer.
When ACCO Unlimited Corporation in Johnston came to Jefferson earlier this year to inspect a leak in the piping system, they discovered the badly corroded filters which are part of the life-blood of a public swimming pool. Parks and Recreation Director Vicky Lautner says the two current filters haven’t been replaced since 1987 when the 300,000-gallon pool was renovated.
However, the ACCO representative suggested sanding the rust off and painting it may help, but that if the legs were to break while sanding it, the filters would be ruined adds Lautner.
At last month’s JPRD Board meeting, ACCO supplied a quote for replacing the filters for $78,855.83 which includes two new sand filters, replacing all the filter piping which is currently leaking for an included cost of $7,282.30 and the piping for the water heater of $4,580.60.
Lautner points out that her department has two small budgets every year of $5,200 for building and grounds and an equipment budget of $5,000.
She states that she has purchased a pool vacuum for $4,175 from the $5,000 equipment budget and spent another $4,945 from the $5,200 building and grounds budget from last season and so all of her funds have been exhausted for the year until July 2014.
Lautner notes that they have already requested and received funds from the City Council out of the capital improvement budget to have the current diving board refurbished for $2,345 and buying three new lifeguard chairs at $272 due to normal wear and tear.
At the last City Council meeting, the amount of money quoted by ACCO was reported and it was determined that more information about the product and an investigation into how the filters got to their current condition was needed before the Council could act on the issue.
Outgoing councilman Bill Figenshaw said that whatever they needed to do must be done to the pool in order for the City to keep an asset like that for its citizens to use.
If the Council decides to help with the purchase of the filters, it would need to be ordered by January 1st so that it could be properly installed in time for the next pool season.