Mill Hall pool advocates ask Lock Haven council for financial help to match DCNR grant

A resident and pool advocate told the Lock Haven City Council on the public-comment agenda that Mill Hall Park’s outdoor pool, more than 54 years old, needs substantial renovation and that the borough has secured a grant from DCNR for $952,000.

The speaker said the Mill Hall pool committee has been working for about two-and-a-half years to raise matching funds and noted a county-funded feasibility study of $33,000. The advocate said Mill Hall borough has taken on loans and has already spent funds on design and permitting, and asked council members to consider a gift of city funds or letters of support to help the project secure other state and private funding.

Council members and staff asked questions about timing and budgeting, noting the city’s budget cycle and that a formal request would need to be placed on a future agenda for any appropriation. The speaker said the group is pursuing a variety of sources — including private donors, township contributions and outreach to Representative Borowicz’s and Senator Bush’s offices — and that bidding and contractor activity on the feasibility/design work was expected to begin soon.

The speaker described a matching-fund target (they stated a figure of roughly $152,000) and said the committee is exploring loans with two-year terms and private-donor commitments; the speaker asked whether the city could consider a contribution of $50,000 to $100,000 as an example but framed that as a suggestion rather than a formal motion.

Council members said they support looking at the request but reiterated that any direct city funding would require formal agenda placement and an approved appropriation. The exchange ended with staff and the group agreeing to provide more formal documentation to council for consideration at a future meeting.

The city did not take formal action on the pool request at the Jan. meeting; council members asked staff to place a potential funding request on a future agenda if the committee submits the necessary paperwork and timelines.