No pool season in Hartley this year

Local kids looking to cool off this summer won't be able to take a dip in Hartley.

The city council on Monday agreed to keep the pool closed in 2021 to accommodate construction of a new aquatic center. Voters overwhelmingly approved a bond issue last week to partially finance the facility, and city officials want to get things moving as soon as possible.

"If we're going to be aggressive, we're not going to have a pool season," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld.

Increased construction costs were one of the main reasons council members wanted to push the project forward. The price of building materials has spiked during the past year, and the council didn't want to jeopardize the new pool's $3 million estimated price tag.

"Some of this stuff has tripled in the last eight months," said Hengeveld, who owns and operates a construction business.

Project manager Michael Fisher said his firm, Water's Edge, would push hard to get the project completed by the summer of 2022. The site is slated to get surveyed this month and design plans, bid letting and other tasks will proceed from there.

Fisher noted that three construction companies have already expressed interest in the project.

"You've got people who are interested in this type of pool project, and that's good," he said. "We have a pretty aggressive schedule and I'm committed to making it more aggressive. If I get all my ducks in a row, I think we can get this thing done pretty quick."

Hartley's new aquatic center will be built at or near its current location in Neebel Park. The square footage of the pool will be comparable to the current one.

Once constructed, the facility will include a zero-entry play area with a family slide, four swimming lanes, deep water diving and swim area, basketball hoops and a volleyball net, new bathhouse, and a large deck area with shaded zones.

Groundbreaking is hoped to take place in June, which would make it nearly impossible to hold a pool season. It would cost the city too much to fill it and make it operational, as many parts like the heaters are on their last legs.

"If everything goes to schedule, it's not worth it," said Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz. "If you have your heaters quit working, then you have one giant cold bathtub."

Hartley's current pool was built in 1958. The last major updates occurred in 1996.