Judge Lewis pool to be closed
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It appears that the swimming pool at Judge Lewis Park in Mount Ayr has seen its last opening day.
There will be no swimming in Mount Ayr this summer after split votes from the Mount Ayr City Council.
A sizable crowd filled the chairs at the council meeting Monday evening to learn the fate of the swimming pool at Judge Lewis Park.
Hopes of keeping the outdoor pool afloat abruptly sank after an update from Jessica Bear, the Contracted State Pool Inspector for Clark, Decatur and Ringgold County.
Her last inspection of the Mount Ayr pool in June of 2022 pointed to safety violations that would need to be addressed prior to the next season.
Public swimming pools are required to maintain their skimming level and ensure that chlorine levels do not dip too high or low, potentially creating health risks for pool patrons. It was noted that continually adding water, as the City of Mount Ayr has been doing, is not an appropriate method of maintaining skimming levels to meet the Iowa Code.
Ms. Bear also noted that the “City of Mount Ayr has disturbed the deck” of the swimming pool since her last visit. The removal of the concrete deck around the pool means that the City of Mount Ayr will now need to meet current Iowa Code in order to reopen the pool.
That step requires a state engineer to inspect the structural integrity of the pool because the foundation is questionable.
Superintendent Wise explained that the concrete deck was removed to search for leaks around the pipes as they filled the pool. They did not see any leaks until the water reached skimming level. Significant water leaks were found where the curb sits on top of the gutter. He encouraged the council to take some sort of action.
Mayor Steve Fetty also urged the council to act, to go in some forward motion.
During the public forum section of the meeting, Pam Cross voiced her confusion over what the last vote was for, the community didn’t know if it was for an outdoor pool or indoor, or what direction the city was planning to take.
Councilman Ken Robertson said that every survey of Mount Ayr residents showed that they wanted an outdoor pool, not an indoor pool as part of the proposed Gold Center, a multi-use facility.
Councilman Mack Greene said that the city has been dumping money into fixing the pool for a lot of years and decisions about the pool have been delayed too long. He said now that the city has the funding (thanks to the passage of the $2 million bond issue earlier this year), the city should move forward and do something for the kids of the community.
Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mack Greene to close the pool for the 2023 season.
Robertson made a motion to move forward with constructing a new outdoor pool at Judge Lewis Park. The motion failed with three council members voting no…Elliott, Stewart and Jessica Bishop.
Council members Brad Elliott and Jordon Stewart voted against the proposal as they don’t think rebuilding as an outdoor pool is in the city’s best interest.
“Why do something that serves the community for about three months per year when we can do something that serves them for 12 months.” Elliott said.
Bishop said she wanted to see bigger picture project costs from both plans (the city plan and the Gold Center plan) before taking any action.
Councilman Elliott noted that May 3 will be the first public meeting to collect input and review possible design options for a possible pool at the site of the new Gold Center.
But, as for now, the city has no plans to repair or replace the pool at Judge Lewis Park or solid plans to construct a new pool somewhere as part of some project.
Other actions
• Set a public hearing for the approval of fiscal year budget ending June 30, 2024 for 6 p.m. on Monday, April 17.
• Approved Rehab Grants to Benell Entersprises of Moravia in the amount of $9,700 for repairs at 704 E. Van Buren.
Approved F&M Carpentry of Kellerton a $19,950 grant to rehab 706 N. Webster Street.
Approved $15,725 for Benell Enterprises to rehab the property at 303 S. Harrison Street.
• Officially approved city owned land at 206 East Jefferson Street to Mark and Leza Johnson for $3,500 and the property at 703 North Cleveland Street to Rahim Martin for $25,000.
• Approved the hiring of a new city employee.
• Made appointments for the Board to Adjustment and Airport Commission.
• Approved the construction of a fence at Loch Ayr Lake by Austin Adams for $4,488.
