May 8, 2008
Caliente City Pool May Remain Closed

Photo by Dave Maxwell Caliente Municipal Pool.

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

Lengthy delays in getting the Caliente City Pool repaired may mean the pool will have to stay closed again this summer.

Caliente City Council members reported the insurance company has finally agreed to repair the damage caused by the ground heaving during the winter of 2006. Councilwoman Laura Tibbetts said that with the repair work needed, it would most like be July before the pool would be ready. It is possible however, further delays could occur pushing back that date.

Discussion was held among Council members of only replacing the damaged part, which would be less expensive. However, Councilman Ashley Moore was not in favor of the idea. “I feel we need to get underneath it and replace whatever subsurface work needs to happen…If we need to replace the whole pool without a cold joint that has a possibility of cracking again, let’s do,” he said.

Moore also said he thought it would be better to replace the entire pool and not open this summer than to replace only half of it, and try to open for only six weeks before school starts again in late August. As discussion continued Moore said he felt the Council needed more information and more options to consider, “And let us handle some of the decisions instead of just the office.”

City Attorney John Brown said he felt the primary issue with the pool was the condition of the subsurface and all the water there. It was the subsurface water that froze, heaved up and broke the pool one winter in the first place.

Brown said he would ask the pool contractor and the engineer for more information and possible options and report at the next Council meeting May 15.