Brewer council weighs aging pool's future, eyes splash pad as interim fix

The Brewer City Council held a special workshop on the Brewer Municipal Pool, where staff presented years of operating and capital costs and detailed deteriorating conditions, including leaks, failing valves, and safety concerns. Councilors agreed not to fund repairs to reopen the pool as is, and directed staff to explore a smaller splash pad as a temporary option while planning a full pool replacement. The council also approved routine consent calendar items and two land use orders.

Key points

• City Manager Eric Glidden said the pool is aging and that he could not in good conscience recommend reopening it next year, citing an estimated $120,000 repaving cost plus other needed repairs.
• Parks and Rec Director Whitney Dorsett and Assistant Director Grace described significant water loss of three to four gallons per minute, failing valves, a non-working sand filter, and manual chemical feeding that put staff at risk.
• Councilors estimated it could cost roughly $246,000 to $250,000 to open the pool for eight weeks next year, and none voiced support for repairing the pool as it stands.
• Councilor Michelle (Speaker G) said a splash pad has been the number one public request, while Councilor Halloran (Speaker E) said she would rather put money toward a pool and opposed spending taxpayer money on a splash pad.
• The council agreed to explore a smaller splash pad as an interim measure while keeping the focus on replacing the pool, with grant funding possibilities discussed.
• The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, including a school capital reserve transfer, several donations, a carry-forward encumbrance, and a police vehicle purchase, and unanimously approved two land use orders and a cultural and arts committee appointment.

Next steps

• Staff to explore options and costs for a smaller splash pad, including grant funding and phased features, while planning for a full pool replacement.
• City Manager Glidden to send councilors the 2009 pool study and financial materials for review.
• No public comment was offered at the meeting.

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