Town seeks at least temporary solution for pool repair

After dealing with the issue of whether to allow chickens in the town limits (see June 12 edition), the Lovell Town Council continued with other business during the regular monthly council meeting on June 10.

Public Works Director Adrin Mayes took the council through a detailed analysis of the municipal swimming pool operated jointly by the town and School District No. 2.

Mayes showed photos and provided details about the state of the pool equipment and lining. He said there are numerous holes in the pool’s aluminum tub, from pinhole size to ¾ inch, and solutions have ranged from epoxy to welding.

Basically, the pool tub is “corroding away,” Mayes said, and the pool hasn’t been filled since it was drained for inspection several months ago.

Mayes said estimates for applying epoxy to fill and coat the holes are in the $80,000 to $100,000 range, and Levi Miller of Miller Fabrication is working up a quote for welding the tub after examining the pool last Thursday. Even if welding is the solution, Mayes said, a coating would have to be applied to the tub surface. Running the pool would also require the town crew to check the pool every four hours, which could cost the town $9,000 to $10,000 in overtime since the town no longer has a part-time employee for pool inspection.

He said the pool’s chlorinator failed a few years ago, and the town was told such a device at that time would cost $15,000, though the pool has been hand-chlorinated for some time.

In addition, only one air handler is working at the facility, so the single unit can’t keep up during the winter months, creating high humidity in the facility, which is why the pool has been closed for a few winters now.

Finally, only one of the two boilers is working in the facility, with parts taken from one unit to keep the other running.

In short, it will be expensive and time-consuming just to “band-aid” the pool, Mayes said, and the project could take several weeks, perhaps well into August.

Mayor Tom Newman said he recently attended his grandson’s preschool graduation program, and when asked, several of the kids said they hoped to go swimming this summer.

“The little kids want to swim, and most parents don’t want to drive (to Powell or Cody) or sit in the sun. My hope is we can get it up and running to buy some time, if nothing else,” Newman said, recalling that a new pool was estimated to cost $4-5 million or more.

“Is it worth putting money in to get it working for the summer,” he asked the council. “The overtime doesn’t bother me, but if it’s $100,000 for epoxy, I love the little kids, but …

“It’s worthwhile to gather some solid numbers. What a mess. It makes me sad.”

Councilman Mike Grant recommended paying Miller a consulting fee to examine the pool and provide an estimate for repair, which led to his inspection Thursday.

“It’s worth looking into it to see if it’s feasible,” Newman added. “The little kids just tug at my heartstrings.”

Mayes also reported on a gutter on Jersey Avenue that has sagged over the years and, thus, collected pooled water, mud, leaves and grass, requiring the town to pump it out or run the sweeper on it every couple of weeks.

“It’s been a problem spot for years,” Mayes said. “There’s a big dip in it.”

A project to level the gutter for better flow and replace the curb, gutter and sidewalk would cost about $9,000, Mayes said, as estimated by Workman Contracting.

The project is being considered for the 2025-26 budget.

In budget business last week, the council passed on third reading the ordinance establishing the annual tax levy for the Town of Lovell (Ordinance 1021), but the council tabled the third reading of the annual appropriation ordinance (1022) while some final numbers are worked out. The council is to pass the ordinance at a special meeting set for June 25 at noon.

In other action June 10:

• Clerk/treasurer Colleen Tippetts presented to the council a release and hold harmless agreement for Tillett property on the northeast end of town that is crossed by an open drain the town is responsible for cleaning. Having tabled the agreement at a previous meeting, the council voted to take the agenda item off the table, then voted to approve the agreement.

• The council voted to approve the sale of surplus property that had been advertised including chain link fencing and old chairs from the community center, with councilman Grant abstaining.

• The council voted to reject an extension of a temporary living permit for a person living in a camper on property in town while a house is being worked on following an earlier report from building inspector HK Click. The trailer occupant had apparently not met a deadline for a building permit, so Click recommended that the council not renew the extension.

• Following a request by Big Horn County, the council voted to write a letter of support for a safe streets project grant that would be used throughout the county.

• The council voted to approve a dispatching agreement with Big Horn County Fire District No. 5 (Deaver-Frannie).

• Following a presentation by Tippetts, the council voted to write off an uncollectable debt from an account holder who had passed away. The town did receive some funds through probate, Tippetts said.

• The council approved a catering permit for Aud’s Four Corners for the Mustang Days Rodeo on June 28 and for extended hours on the early morning of June 29 during Mustang Days. The council also approved a resolution to modify the open container ordinance to allow alcohol to be served in a fenced-in area adjacent to the Four Corners June 27-29.