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Minutes of a Meeting of The North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission September 10, 2007 Outdoor Pool Filter The second item is the outdoor pool filter. The current condition of the outdoor pool filter is beyond repair. This was the last season of operation for the unit. The crew literally had it welded together. There were so few spots left on the filter that could be welded, the Rec Department just got by this year. If a replacement unit is not purchased and installed, the outdoor pool will not operate. The price range estimate, including installation for a new unit, is $25,000-$30,000. If we don’t get a new one, we will not have an outdoor pool running next year. Mr. Scarl asked the Commissioner if the condition of the outdoor pool filter has ever been brought up in the past, just like the ice rink. Mr. DiSalvo said yes, it was always brought up at least since he has been here, and it’s always been a case of see what can be done with it. (There are separate filters for the indoor and outdoor pools.) Mr. Scarl asked if there was any money budgeted for it at the time they were talking about major repairs with the ice rink. Mr. Dailey said the City was hoping it wasn’t going to break. Again, for years the Rec Department’s been getting a lot of grief for not maintaining things or fixing things as well as they should have, but it has never been given the tools to do so. Budgets got cut backed up by Council; when things got tight, if you had to choose between street repairs or a set of bleachers, you’re going to go with street repairs. It’s really a shame, but that’s why we’re trying to get this rectified. The City of North Olmsted is really in a weird situation, because we’re up in the air as regards the Rec Master Plan: do you want to dump $25,000 to $30,000 in a pool that might be gone in two or three years…it’s really tough to swallow and justify. That’s why the City of North Olmsted is trying to speed things up on the inside with the Master Plan and potentially have something on the ballot as soon as March of next year. Mr. Scarl said it wouldn’t be fair to not use the pool in two years. You can put this on the ballot in March, but what happens if it doesn’t pass for a year? If you put a new filter in the pool, it will be open for five more years. Mr. DiSalvo agreed. There’s a lot of money generated by that pool in the summer, especially with programming. Mr. Dailey said that the City is going to look at everything and make it all work. Mr. Garrity said that the perfect way to show that the City, in their Master Plan, must show the residents something by putting money in the pool, because you will tell the residents that we want to have a Rec Center; that we want to move forward. There must be good-faith showings to the residents to get the issue passed. Field Bleachers for Park Locations The Rec Department needs a minimum of ten sets of bleachers to accommodate proper seating for patrons. Three out of five ball diamonds at North Olmsted Park do not have any bleachers at ball diamond locations. Only one ball diamond out of five has two sets of bleachers for seating. One out of those five has a home team and away team. Typically, with the diamond problem and the bleachers, those are the first things that get cut from capital improvements, just because. They are expensive items. It’s beyond being embarrassing. The City of North Olmsted needs to have bleachers, even though people can bring chairs. Once bleachers are placed, they should stay where they are. Page 6