September 12, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville Municipal Swimming Pool has sprung some significant leaks.
Ken Lacy, manager of the pool and golf course, advised the mayor and aldermen Monday night and at previous meetings and workshops that repairs should be made before the pool re-opens next summer.
Lacy recently contacted the American Leak Detection Company of Nashville which has offered a performance contract to come and check the pool. According to Lacy, the company will review and diagnose the problem and provide an estimate on the repair costs.
“Their fee for that (site inspection) is $2,500 to $3,500 if we do a contract with them. They can’t give a true assessment on the repair costs until they are here but they said it would probably be in the neighborhood $7,000 and $10,000 total with a possible discount,” he said.
Lacy said the leaks are on both sides of the pool and the water loss is significant. “The skimmer system is leaking and the leaks are on both sides of the pool. We have leaching on the street side and the golf course side and wherever its leaking it is happening a lot. Its not necessarily in the deep end. Where the water is coming out more is on the shallow side of the pool. To keep it full we pump water from an inch and a half line into the pool 24/7. It never shuts down,” said Lacy.
The aldermen discussed whether to have the work done during the fall or wait until next spring.
“If they do it now we have to refill the pool because they need the pumps running and skimmers in operation,” said Lacy.
Alderman Brandon Cox said he didn’t feel comfortable voting for the project based on cost estimates.
“Are there any other providers? Have we checked with others? I would like to see more concrete numbers,” said Alderman Cox.
“There possibly are (other companies) but this is the company that is recommended by the people we do our pump services with. They say this company (American Leak Detection) is the most reputable and it is one of the largest companies out there. They can detect leaks within a foot and go in and repair them,” said Lacy.
The aldermen voted 3-1 to contract with American Leak Detection Company of Nashville to do a site inspection of the pool at a cost of up to $3,500. Alderman Cox voted no.