Members of the Lakes District Swimming Pool Society are now considering the purchase of a portable pool.
Pam Higgenson, society director has been investigating the option to purchase a 20′ x 40′ (six metre x 12 metre) portable pool from the District of Vanderhoof. She said the pool is approximately 45″ deep.
Higgenson said she has recently spoken with the Vanderhoof arena manager about the purchase of the portable pool.
Higgenson said the pool comes with a $500 price tag, which would not make much of a dent in the society’s $50,000 bank account.
“The boiler is not in good shape and we would probably need to replace the filter, the steps and the wooden decking,” she said.
As the pool has been in storage since 2006, Higgenson said she was also told that a new liner may be necessary.
“It takes three people one week to set it up,” she said, adding that she was told the pool isn’t used by the District of Vanderhoof anymore because they are trying to get an in ground pool put in instead.
She also said that when the pool was in use in Vanderhoof it was a good money maker, bringing in $20,000 revenue over the summer with operational costs, including heating, insurance and staff wages at $15,000.
Village of Burns Lake recreation coordinator Logan Wilson and Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena foreman Charlie Bowerbank also attended the meeting.
Wilson said that once the pool is opened, a minimum of two certified lifeguards have to be at the pool at all times. He felt that this could be a stumbling block for the society as he said he had trouble getting certified lifeguards when trying to set up swimming classes in the lake last summer.
Bowerbank said a requirement of having a pool is also that there is showers available.
Martina Zechendorf, society resident asked Wilson if he thought it was feasible to set up the pool in the Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena, one the ice goes out.
Wilson said he does intend on using the arena during the summer for activities like ball hockey and also added that this year the arena will be used for the Minerals North 2012 conference, a trade show, a dog show and a circus.
Bowerbank asked the society if they had considered locating the pool in a quonset? He said he had concerns about storage of the pool during winter and said there is no available storage at the arena. “The pool will take a lot of storage space, especially when you consider all the decking at equipment that goes along with it.”
He said this could be another option as it would allow the society to operate the pool all year round, eliminating storage issues in the winter and set up and take down times.
“There is definitely a lot to think about and some extra costs attached to this, but with the portable pool only costing $500 we have money left over to spend on repairs and upgrades,” Zechendorf said.
Wilson suggested the society make a presentation to council. The society members agreed to asking council for further direction.
