Summer Setbacks Postpone Plans
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With the school year coming to an end this Friday, eager eyes look forward to all that summer has to offer. Some popular past-times are flashing a caution light, however.
Pool leak delays opening
The opening of the new swimming pool at Judge Lewis Park has been postponed due to a water leak.
On Tuesday, city administrator Brent Wise noticed the water level at the pool was somewhat low. Looking further, he found the automatic refill valve was not functioning as designed.
He called Carrothers Construction, the pool contractors, to inquire if he might be overlooking any adjustment that would eliminate the problem.
The project manager for Carrothers traveled to Mount Ayr late Tuesday afternoon to determine possible causes for the problem.
Upon arriving at the pool, the contractor and Wise found an alarm on the recirculating pump was sounding, denoting that the pump had shut down. The contractor explained that when the water level reached a certain low point, the pump would automatically shut down as a safety feature.
The next day, Carrothers technicians performed a dye test to determine if a leak had formed in a feed line or return line in the system.
From the result of the dye test, they determined the problem lay in a feed line to one of the pool’s features.
The next step was the use of electronic equipment and underwater cameras to pinpoint the problem.
By Friday the technicians determined a leak had developed under the pool floor in the water line feeding the “mushroom” feature in the shallow end of the pool.
By week’s end the leak had drained over 13,000 gallons of water.
Carrothers estimated that a two-to-three foot square of the pool’s floor would need to be removed to access and repair the leak.
They further estimated a two-week timeline to access and repair the leak, repair and repaint the pool floor, and refill the pool to proper levels.
While Wise agreed everyone was disappointed with the delay in opening the pool, he added that the two-week repair would lose only three or four swimming days beyond the original opening set for May 23. In addition, the added days would allow for continued testing of all systems.
All costs associated with the repair are covered under the contractor’s warranty.
Fairgrounds Cattle Barn
The Ringgold County Fairgrounds could look a bit different this year, as the cattle barn roof peak has collapsed. The inward roof buckling was discovered last week, and yellow caution tape now surrounds the structure.
Fair board members are unsure they can save the structure, and are now working on a back up plan in place of the barn, with just two months remaining until the county fair.
“It came as a shock to them” stated Karie Wasteny in a phone conversation, “They have been working hard to get that fixed up and ready for the fair.”
Karie’s husband, Brent, is one of four Ringgold County Fair board members that have been busy preparing for the upcoming fair season.
The roof had recently been repaired and new steel was put up after an April storm blew through the county last year.
“The fair board spends a ton of volunteer hours preparing for the fair,” said Karie. “This is a huge blow to them.”
The Ringgold County Fair is directed by an all volunteer board. Presently, the board is led by:
Aaron Breneman, Chairperson;
Brent Wasteney, Vice-Chair
Kasydi Nickle, Secretary
Liz Stewart, Treasurer
Additionally, the fair board of directors includes:
Joe Becker, Cauy Bickel, Cal Daughton, Amber Fooken, Jeremiah Howell, Shane Triggs, Matt Weeda, Clint Whittington, Mike Wimer, and Tucker Winemiller.
