Pool Temporarily Closes

Staff Writer

Photo by Latoya Shelton

Swimming Laps - Senior Bud Bogan takes in a few laps around the UAM pool before it closed Feb. 13.

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello's pool temporarily closed Feb. 13 due to mechanical problems with the facility.

   Typically made available to UAM faculty, staff and students, the pool lifeguards held the last “open swim” Feb. 13 until a final decision can be made regarding equipment replacement.

    Swimmers on campus had the opportunity to utilize the facility three times a week during open swim, pending any mechanical problems with the pool. According to Benji White, a UAM student worker and lifeguard, very few people took advantage of the hours.

    “You never knew how many folks you would get. It just depends, but it was never a consistent number,” White said.  “You might get one or maybe six - but never a lot.”

    White, who enjoyed working at the pool, and a co-worker who checked student identification cards when the pool was opened, will now be assigned other duties by Julie Gentry, Intramural Director.

    “She found other places for us, so that’s good,” White said.

    In years past, the School of Education utilized the pool, offering water aerobics and swimming classes.

    “We used to have a scuba diving class,” Gentry said. “An instructor came in and taught it. But that hasn’t happened for a while.”

   While the university utilized the pool for educational purposes, it also opened the pool to the community.

    “The pool was originally built when there was an intercollegiate swimming team,” Chancellor Jack Lassiter said. “We have maintained the pool for the limited use by students, community use and the instructional programs offered."

    Three groups from the community used the university pool. The Monticello Marlins, a local swim team, and the Monticello High School swim team accessed the pool three times per week for practice.   An additional group of six-to-seven local residents came five days a week at 5 a.m. to get some exercise swimming. Members of the early morning group each paid $100 annually for use of the pool. Neither swim team paid for their practice time.

    Laura Smith, whose husband participated in the early morning swim group, said her husband loved the pool.

    “I sure hope it will re-open. It was good exercise for them (the morning group), and I know they enjoyed it,” Smith said.

    She added that she understood the repairs might not be feasible.

    “I know you can’t always keep things the way they were, but I sure hope they can do something with it,” Smith said. “Our kids used to swim in that pool and it sure was enjoyed."

    According to Jim Hudgins, director of the Physical Plant, there had been one or two “major episodes” each year with the pool. This past winter the heating coils were replaced.

    About two weeks ago, the dehumidifier, which maintenance had been “patching” for the past 3.5 years, finally quit.

     “When you deal with a pool there’s a lot of corrosion from water and chlorine,” Hudgins said. “The life expectancy on that equipment (dehumidifier) is around 10 years and this one is at that point.”

Photo by Latoya Shelton

Dive In - Senior Bud Bogan dives in. Bogan visited the pool Feb. 13, the last night it was open.

    In addition to the dehumidifier, the pool’s filtration system functions at a “minimum level” according to Hudgins. If the campus loses power the system goes “off-line” and doesn’t reset for several days. The system is part of the original equipment installed when the pool and field house were opened in 1960.

    “If you’re going to invest in replacing equipment you might as well look at the whole package,” Hudgins said.

    According to Lassiter, cost of the filtration equipment alone would be $100,000 to $125,000 plus installation expenses. These costs are in addition to the expense of replacing the dehumidifier.

   Early estimates for new equipment for the pool are $250,000 - $300,000. With installation, the estimates are $300,000 - $350,000.

   Normal budget expenditures for the pool include $4,000 for minor maintenance and operation expenses, including chemicals, and a $9,500 student labor budget for lifeguards and students who work in that area.

   “Obviously the question is where $350,000 will come from,” Lassiter said.

   Lassiter added that no decision has been made yet regarding what to do with the pool. Options include closing the facility permanently or finding a source of funding to restore it.

   In an effort to prevent further damage to the facility from rust and condensation, a maintenance decision was made to temporarily close and drain the pool. Draining began Feb. 14 and according to Hudgins, the process would take more than a day.

   “We don’t want the building, the structure to deteriorate. So we’re taking preventive measures now,” Hudgins said.

   Open community meetings will take place to gather and share information regarding the fate of the facility and possible funding options. Student, faculty and staff utilization of the pool will be taken into account as well. An engineering firm in Little Rock is also providing input regarding costs and repairs.

    “No decision has been made until we can get enough information and facts,” Lassiter said.

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