The Centralia Pool Committee on Tuesday looked at proposals for a 3,000-square-foot pool and three spray pad options as they try to find an affordable option to replace the old Fairview Park Pool.
Josh Layer of Burbach Aquatics says the small pool with limited features has an estimated cost of $ 3.4 million dollars.
“That is a 3,000-square-foot facility with zero depth. The only amenities this pool has is there would be a toddler slide for your smaller kids, maybe a few small sprays and then a one-meter diving board.”
A 3,700-square-foot deluxe spray pad with a centralized play structure with several spray features had an estimated cost of $ 1.9 million. The smallest spray pad of only 840 square feet would cost $407,000 if water is not circulated and $693,000 if the water is reused and treated.
City Council member Barri Allen feels the cost of the pool and large spray pad are still too much.
“I don’t think there is enough money to do that. I wish there was. Eventually, I hope there will be. But it’s like we have to have a new water treatment plant and we have to have clean water.”
But Economic Development Director Derek Sherman who led the discussion feels further cost estimates should still be obtained for the pool.
“I think if we did the barebones pool with an operating cost, that way citizens would understand this is the baseline of what it costs to have one of these in the community. Then they would know. I know when I went through the Facebook comments there were a lot of comments like ‘the pool can’t cost that much. I paid $500 for mine in my backyard.'”
After discussing the possibility of completing a survey or starting a capital campaign, committee member Mickey Martin questioned if it might be better to just take a vote.
“Why can’t we come up with what we want and put it out there and let the taxpayers make the decision? If they want a pool, then they are going to have to raise taxes.”
After getting detailed operational costs on the pool and two smaller size spray pads, the group will then consider how to ask the city council to proceed.
The City of Centralia currently has no money set aside for the project. Economic Development Director Derek Sherman who is the city’s ex-officio member of the committee says seeking grant funding could also help pay for the project of the project.
