One week after the storm, Park Manager Dave Tersteeg reported that the insurance company had assessed the pool three times and approved repairs estimated at $70-140,000 with a $10,000 deductible. Contractor bids have been submitted for the work.
The roof will need new ceiling wiring and lighting, a vapor barrier, insulation, oriented strand board, and a rubber roofing membrane, and the west wall and area above the sauna will need a vapor barrier, insulation, and paneling.
Heavy rains on November 2 did not penetrate the Tyvek barrier that had been put down as a stopgap. Tersteeg hoped the pool could be open while repairs were made, but the insurance company insisted that the interior walls be stripped.
When asked whether a special meeting of the city council would be held to decide on repairs, Tersteeg said, “I have been actively seeking that all week.” He was told they were waiting for numbers, but as of Wednesday, November 3, the council had no plans to meet until its next regular meeting on November 10 even though the necessary information was in from the insurance company and bidders. “I was disappointed that we couldn’t get a meeting put together sooner,” Tersteeg said.
Reached by phone on November 4, City Administrator Mike Roth said information is still being gathered. “We really don’t have enough information to justify a special meeting. We are still getting bids from contractors.”
Park Board Member Robin DuChien, who has been on the scene all week observing the emergency repairs, said she felt the city was moving as fast as it can. “We’ve been waiting for the insurance company to let us know what we can do. We’ve heard unofficially, but the requirement to post a meeting three days in advance doesn’t make it practical to try to hold a special meeting.”
DuChien expected to hear more at a park board meeting scheduled after press time, on Thursday, November 4.
Repairing the storm damage will not alleviate the facility’s problems. According to Tersteeg, walls and basement infrastructure need several hundreds of thousands of dollars of major repairs, and a new $100,000 pool liner is needed. A consulting firm estimated a cost of $2-4,000,000 for needed repairs. “As a whole,” Tersteeg said, “the building is still very far gone.”
Membership expiration dates will be extended to cover the time the pool will be closed, and shortterm memberships can be refunded. People who have paid for Aqua Tot lessons will get refunds or rain checks. “Log rolling really took a hit,” Tersteeg said. “Theywere really in the thick of the season.”
Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen is helping clean up storm damage at Harbor Park, Coast Guard Point, and Sweetheart’s Bluff and will take already scheduled vacation time. Part-time staff members have the choice of being laid off for a month or two or being kept on-call for small jobs such as holiday decorating.
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