A plan for the pool?

A case for vital repairs at Hartley's never-opened new pool could be presented to a state board this month.

Hartley City Administrator Erica Haack reported Tuesday that Eriksen Construction, the general contractor in charge of building the new aquatic center, recently received a plan from an equipotential bonding specialist that may remedy issues at the pool. According to Haack, the plan is hoped to be presented to the Iowa Electrical Examining Board during its meeting on Aug. 18.

"As far as we know, the general contractor received a plan from the third party," she said. "It will be given to a structural engineer for review and analysis about whether it's feasible for the pool basin and other areas."

The Iowa Electrical Examining Board, which operates under the wing of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, would have to sign off on the plan before any work could begin.

The saga of Hartley's new pool has been a tormented one. After well over five years of planning and organizing, a bond issue to build a new pool was passed in March of 2021 with more than 80 percent approval. Demolition of the old facility and construction of its replacement began later that year, with an opening date tentatively set for June of 2022.

The ribbon was never cut. The city council learned in June the pool could not pass inspection due to errors made with electrical work during the construction process. According to information presented during a special city council meeting on June 20, Eriksen Construction and the pool's subcontracted electrician, Phillips Electric, of Spirit Lake, didn't follow inspection rules mandated by National Electric Code 680 (NEC 680).

All metal objects in the pool and surrounding areas must be connected by a copper wire in a process called "equipotential bonding." The method is used as a safety measure to reduce the risk of severe shock should stray voltage polarize one of the objects in the pool.

The bonding wire must be inspected by a state or local electrical inspector before it gets buried under concrete to ensure the work was done properly. The inspections didn't take place at Hartley's pool during the construction process, a fact that wasn't known until after a vast majority of work was completed. Some material was used incorrectly during the bonding installation as well, according to previous council discussion.

State regulations require new pools to follow guidelines set forth in NEC 680. Michael Fisher, the pool's project manager and design engineer, said the facility's specs also stipulated that all electrical work follow NEC 680.

The pool has remained closed due to the inspections issues, and no work has taken place at the site since June. Information presented at past council meetings has led both elected officials and city staff members to believe the only solution will come from significant demolition and reconstruction of recent work.

"We'll learn more on how things will progress after the meeting on the 18th," Haack said.