Commission discusses safety-driven closure of Freedom Hall Pool; repairs could cost hundreds of thousands to millions

Commissioners raised concerns about the structural condition of Freedom Hall Pool and described an immediate safety risk to employees who must enter confined spaces beneath the pool for maintenance.

Commissioner (Doctor) Fowler and other commissioners said staff identified deteriorated concrete and embedded steel weakened by decades of exposure to chlorinated water; an earlier engineering estimate to ‘‘band-aid’’ the problem was about $747,000, while staff cautioned that complete repair or reconstruction could be as much as $1,500,000 or higher once the full extent of damage is known.

A staff speaker described the maintenance procedure: an employee must descend a metal ladder through a small hatch to service pumps and introduce chemicals, and engineers have identified that space as substandard and a safety hazard. Commissioners said the city delayed action until the end of the current sports season where possible but emphasized that employee safety was driving the need to act.

Commissioners noted the city had discussed aquatic facility needs over several years and that an aquatic study exists; they also invited public input about long-term options. No final funding decision was made at the meeting; staff said they will continue evaluating options and costs.

Mayor Greg Cox adjourned the meeting after additional remarks about festivals and volunteers.