Hartley pool to open next year

It may have taken more than a year longer than expected, but Hartley is going to have an open pool next spring.

City Administrator Roxann Swanson reported that the new facility passed its recent safety inspection by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). That's a huge step in the right direction, as a previous failed inspection forced its indefinite closure.

Swanson said the IDPH identified a few areas for the city to address prior to the grand opening.

"There is nothing within those that would stop us from opening the pool next spring," she said. "[Pool project manager] Michael Fisher will be working with [general contractor] Eriksen Construction on the few remaining outstanding items."

The pool failed its safety inspection last year due to missteps made during the construction process. Proper electrical inspections were not completed before the deck's concrete was poured, and IDPH could not sign off on whether bonding was properly wired.

After months of legal wrangling and proposals to address the discrepancy, the Iowa Electrical Examining Board (IEEB) in June approved a plan by Eriksen to remove and replace the pool's perimeter decking and reconnect all conductive fixtures to a rebuilt bonding ring. That was completed in October and the pool was filled after painting was finished.

Swanson said pool manager Pam Mohni, Water Superintendent Terry Hilbert and Superintendent of Public Works Curtis Conaway were trained on how to operate the pool.

Exterior groundwork and seeding has taken place since the pool was drained and winterized. Swanson said the city is still awaiting IDPH's final safety inspection report.

"I just know whatever is identified is not going to stop us from opening in the spring," Swanson said.

The repoured deck necessitated increased costs for the project, which was originally pegged at $3 million. Hartley residents passed a $1.7 million bond issue in March of 2021 to partially finance its construction. Swanson said she could not comment at the moment about who would be responsible for the extra costs; however, she noted legal counsel would remain involved moving forward.

"We have to take care of ourselves here," she said.

Prior to taking over the city administrator's position this year, Swanson served on the city council and was a member of the original pool taskforce committee charged with developing a roadmap to get a new aquatic center built in Hartley. Though the process may have been arduous, she was pleased to finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

"It's awesome," she said. "We're just really excited and plan to have it open in the spring."