August 10, 2023 |
Photo – Hanna Recreation Center – Bigfoot99 file photo
The pool at the Hanna Recreation Center will remain closed indefinitely.
On Tuesday, June 27th, the Hanna Recreation Center Facebook page announced that the pump motor for the heated indoor pool was not functioning. The pool was closed immediately. A new motor was ordered, and staff were waiting for the replacement to arrive.
Unfortunately, the wrong part was ordered. The pool reopening has been delayed until the town received the correct pump motor.
During Tuesday’s Hanna town council meeting, Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales said the pump for the pool is on indefinite backorder. Gonzales said with summer nearly over and no lifeguards on staff, the council could take this opportunity to close the pool for the season.
News of the pump motor malfunction came just six days after the Hanna town council held a meeting to discuss the future of the recreation center. At the June 22nd meeting, the council said the rec center lost $267,587 in the previous fiscal year. Since the town is entirely responsible for paying for the building, officials asked residents for suggestions on how to keep the facility open. One idea was to close the pool for the winter, a plan that would save the town nearly $46,000.
At Tuesday’s town council meeting, Councilman Roger Hawks asked when the needed motor would arrive. Gonzales said she did not know. The clerk also said she had not received any applications for lifeguards, either.
Councilman Sam Sikes asked Gonzales if she had an estimated cost to drain and winterize the pool. A member of the audience asked if additional maintenance would be required to reopen the pool after the water was removed. Gonzales said the town doesn’t have a choice. The pool needs to be drained, she said.
Councilman Sikes motioned to drain and winterize the pool. Councilman Hawks seconded and the motion passed.
Immediately after the vote, Hanna Fire Department member Mark Kostovny said draining the pool may cause costly damage to the facility. Gonzales said the pool has been drained in the past. The town clerk said the council is aware that repairs will be needed before the pool can be filled again.
Mayor Jon Ostling said the decision is out of the town’s hands. With no motor to circulate the water, the pool is stagnating. The stagnate water must be drained. Mayor Ostling said the pool can’t be filled again until the new motor is received.
A recreation center sponsored pool party scheduled for July 22nd was delayed until August 19th while staff waited for the replacement pump motor. With no motor in sight, the pool party is cancelled. No date for the reopening of the swimming pool has been given.
