Community Discusses Future of Pool

Staff Writer

   Interested community members met with University of Arkansas-Monticello administration, faculty and staff for an informal discussion Feb. 29 regarding the future of the swimming pool facility.

    “I don’t know what we’re going to do right now,” Chancellor Jack Lassiter said. “But no final decision has been made in that area.”

Photo by Latoya Shelton

Heated Discussion - Concerned citizens discuss the UAM pool temporarily closing down. The pool closed Feb. 13 due to mechanical issues.

    The UAM pool temporarily closed Feb. 13 and was subsequently drained. UAM  made the decision after the Pool Pak and filter systems stopped working the first part of February. Since that time, condensation caused rust on ceiling trusses and mold and mildew build-up in the bathrooms, equipment and pool deck.

    “We probably should have closed it in the fall,” Lassiter said. “We’ve been patching it (equipment) the last three-to-five years.”

   The university used the 47-year-old facility for competitive collegiate swimming in 1960. In the early 1990s, cosmetic and equipment renovations updated the facility. Updates included a temperature control for the pool and enclosure of the facility required heating and cooling be installed.

   According to Lassiter, only two out of 17 universities competing in the Gulf South Conference currently have varsity swimming. Students, instructional programs offered and community use have maintained the campus pool for limited use.

Educational Use:

   According to Provost David Ray, no regular educational use of the facility occurred.

   “The School of Education offered swimming classes periodically, along with scuba, but that was on a very periodic basis,” Ray said.

   Only 15 students enrolled in the most recent swimming class and eight-to-ten students took scuba. Only 10 - 12 students registered for water aerobics when offered and aquatonics, a water exercise program for senior citizens, has not been offered for two years.

   The campus community also had the chance to utilize the pool during open swim hours but very few accessed the pool.

   According to records maintained by Julie Gentry, Intramurals director, an average of two people used the pool during open swim.

   Clay Brown, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, added that open swim times were varied to attract more use but swimming was never “extremely popular” on campus.

Community Use:

   In addition to records kept on campus-use of the pool, the group discussed logs on the community’s access to the pool.

   The early-morning swimmers, a group of five - seven local residents who swam at 6 a.m. five days-a-week, averaged two swimmers per day during the past year. During the past two years, four swimmers used the pool between 6 and 7 a.m. In the spring of 2003, the group had seven members use the pool per day. Each of the early-morning swimmers paid $100 annually for use of the facility.

   The Monticello Marlins, a year-round swim team, and the Monticello High School swim team each had practice time in the pool. Lassiter said last year the groups had an average of 12 students during their two-hour practice times and this year the teams had an average of 10.

   One parent of a Monticello Marlins team member said she was at the pool three days-a-week for the team’s two-hour workout time and felt that more people on campus would use the pool if there had been better upkeep of the facility.

   She discussed the cleanliness of the bathroom facilities and deck area and remarked that at one point trash was not removed for up to six months. She added that sometimes the student worker lifeguards were not there for UAM students to use the pool during open swim.

   “That’s a surprise to me and I think a surprise to Jim Hudgins, UAM physical plant director,” Lassiter said. “There is a full-time custodian assigned to the facility.”

   The concerned parent noted that despite the custodial assignment to the pool, it was not always in good condition.

   “People that are in there every day know the condition of the facility,” the parent said.

   Traci Grubbs, parent of a Monticello Marlins team member, said the groups appreciated the opportunity to use the pool.

    “An indoor pool is a huge need and a benefit,” Grubbs said. “It gives us an advantage to swim longer and go to State (tournament) at our peak.”

   Swim team parents attending the meeting learned there is no “temporary solution” to the closing.

   “$180,000 listed in repairs is non-negotiable,” Lassiter said.

Equipment and Repair Costs:

  Lassiter provided handouts to attendees detailing the estimated costs of facility repairs and equipment replacement.

   “I want to caution you that these estimates are from 2005,” Lassiter said. “More than likely these costs have increased since that time.”

   The estimate includes:

• $100,000 to replace the Pool Pak (estimate provided by Pettit and Pettit Engineering)
• $72,785 for filter system replacement (cost from project at Henderson State University in 2006)
• $5,000 for chlorinator control and associated systems
• $2,500 for a new pool circulating pump.

   According to the handout Lassiter provided, FPH Architects in Study of Athletic Facilities provided an estimate in 2005 of $255,116 to renovate the facility’s interior. Additional renovations include costs for refinishing the pool surface, re-grouting and repairing the pool deck, prepping and painting the walls and ceiling and replacing broken windows.

Photo by Latoya Shelton

Discussion - Reginald Glover expresses ideas in the UAM pool closing meeting. Town citizens met to express opinions and possible solutions to the pool being out of commission.

    These repairs total $193,116. In addition, costs for an electrical upgrade total $42,000 and a pool upgrade (ladders, cleaning system, etc.) total $20,000.

   “These estimates don’t include minor repairs or the normal expenditures for the pool,” Lassiter said. “We’re looking at approximately $435,391 to put the pool back in use. And these costs don’t include any upgrades for the bathroom facilities.”

   Lassiter added that no state money UAM receives can be used on an auxiliary facility such as the pool; it must be self-sufficient.

   Jim Hudgins added that the Pool Pak worked five years beyond its life expectancy and two of the three filter tanks weren’t operable at the time the pool closed.

   Phillip Farmer, parent of a swim team member and participant in the early-morning swim group, asked if temporary repairs could be made or optional ventilation (fans, opened windows) utilized to help the swim teams through the current seasons.

   “We are not permitted by the State to open ‘make-shift’ facilities,” Lassiter said.

   Hudgins added that the chlorine in the air was deteriorating the facility.

   The two concurred that the facility would not be open for use between February and June.

   “Even if the money was available that’s just not a possibility,” Lassiter said.

    Lassiter added that the pool was not listed as one of the eight projects in the Phase I priorities of the university’s Master Plan.

   “We have three facilities that aren’t ADA compliant,” Lassiter said. “Our next priority is making sure all of our classrooms are accessible to everyone.”

Looking Toward the Future  - A “Communiversity":

   While there is currently no funding for repairs to the pool, Lassiter said the university is exploring every option possible, from private donations to grant applications.

   “As a Monticello resident, I feel strongly that the community needs a community center for the area,” Lassiter said. “As a parent I well appreciate what you (team) parents are struggling with.”

   Monticello Mayor Joe Rogers mentioned plans for the city pool and the costs of such a project.

   “It’s very expensive to operate a pool,” Rogers said. “We’re looking at $262,000 in costs for the city pool.”

   Several in attendance suggested a partnership between both school systems (Drew Central and Monticello), UAM, the City of Monticello and Drew County.

   “In order to attract people to our area of the state we’ve got to put money in the community. It’s a catch-22,” Monticello Schools Superintendent Bobby Harper said. “Right now we’re educating our kids to leave this area of the state. My suggestion is don’t ‘piece-meal’ it. Do it right the first time.”

   Citizens of Monticello also agreed that the community, schools and citizens need come together to address some of these issues.

   “If we don’t start working together, we can’t do anything,” said Terry Hopper, parent of a Monticello Marlins swim team member. “We all need to step up – belly up to the plate.”

   Lassiter added he hoped the two schools and the university could work together in the future to build common facilities.

   “I see UAM as a ‘communiversity,'” Lassiter said. “I’d love to see us (the community) have something like the UALR Donaghey Center and open the doors to community use.”

   Possible sites for a center of this type are North Main Street at the site of W.C. Whaley School or using part of the 1,800 acres at UAM.

   The group concluded the meeting by agreeing to resume talks at a later date. Another meeting to discuss future options for a community facility or renovations to the existing pool will be scheduled within the next 60 days.

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.

©The Voice 2008