PRESQUE ISLE – The Presque Isle City Council will hold a workshop in the coming weeks to discuss strategies for planning and financing improvements to the indoor pool at The Forum.
The indoor pool is overseen by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and is becoming older and increasingly expensive to maintain. The city had approached the SAD 1 school board about taking over the operation of the pool, but the board opted earlier this month not to move forward with the idea.
Chris Beaulieu, Parks and Recreation Department director, told councilors that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had held a meeting recently to talk about the future of the pool.
He said the board had decided that the pool would continue to be run but that several improvements needed to be made to it over the next several years.
The upgrades include resurfacing the bottom of the pool, upgrading the filter system, and replacing the underground tank. Officials also are hoping to install a slide at the pool and renovate the locker rooms.
“We feel these projects are very necessary to keep the pool going and keep it upgraded,” said Beaulieu.
He suggested conducting a workshop with the council to discuss the ideas further, adding that with prices for construction materials going up, it might be a good idea to make the improvements in the near future.
Councilor Ron McPherson said he believed the workshop was a good idea, saying the indoor pool was an important part of the community.
“The pool needs some tender loving care that does cost some healthy dollars,” he acknowledged. “I think a workshop would be a real good idea.”
Councilor Don Gardner agreed, saying he believed the council needed to brainstorm ways to determine where the city is going to get the money to pay for the improvements.
The workshop will take place in the next few weeks.
jlbdn@ainop.com
768-5681
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