Park board debates pool repairs, $4,995 cleaner quote and splash-pad alternative

Members of the Madison County Park Board spent the bulk of a meeting discussing maintenance at the municipal pools, including a vendor quote for an automatic cleaner and the deteriorating condition of pool liners.

A vendor quoted the Wave 100 pool cleaner at $4,995, with staff estimating a likely advertising/discount arrangement of about $250 to $500 a year. A park employee expressed concern about leaving an expensive unit on site: "If you leave a $5,000 pool cleaner in that pool overnight, they'll cut a hole in the fence and it'll be gone," the staff member said, arguing that lifeguards have historically performed daily vacuuming.

Board members and pool staff also described more significant capital needs. The meeting record notes that the current pool liners date from a 2009 relining project and are now threadbare; a speaker estimated that relining the large pool could cost on the order of $100,000 and recommended booking liner contractors well in advance because they travel and schedule seasonally.

The board discussed alternatives for the shallow kiddie pool, which the group said is difficult to keep filled through winter and accelerates liner wear. One participant recommended replacing the kiddie pool with a splash-pad or "mushroom" water feature as a lower-maintenance, child-safety alternative.

On near-term next steps, the board asked staff to develop a prioritized repair list and reallocate funds as needed. The chair and staff agreed to follow up with vendors and with Rachel (the staff member handling permits) to ensure required health-department work and clean-water samples are filed; a food/permit filing for event vendors was noted to require a $250 fee.

No formal purchase of pool equipment was approved at the meeting. The discussion closed with staff and board members agreeing to gather cost estimates for liner work and to revisit the question after obtaining more precise bids and staffing plans.