The Centralia Fairview Park Pool Committee will ask the city council if they want to do a feasibility study as part of the committee’s study on if a new outdoor pool should be constructed in the park.
The Business Development Manager of Burbach Aquatics that constructed the now-closed pool in Fairview Park told the committee the feasibility study should be the next step. Roger Schamberger says the study would look at other pools within a 35-mile radius for attendance, size, and amenities. The goal would be to find some unique features not available elsewhere to attract residents from out of town while still serving the community’s needs.
The committee decided before moving forward on a study, they should find out if the city council wants to go in that direction. A public forum that had been planned earlier by the committee has been tabled until further notice.
Schamberger also reviewed recent pool projects that the company has completed. He noted any new pool would be built with double steel concrete that should have a life of 25 to 50 years.
Schamberger said of the 49 sales or property tax increases sought to pay for a pool construction project using their firm, 48 passed. Centralia would likely have to seek a tax increase to pay for a new pool facility.
An earlier study had indicated the cost of making repairs to the current pool would be cost-prohibitive.
