Eudora pool needs $7,000 in repairs

Spring cleaning at Eudora’s municipal pool revealed about $7,000 in needed repairs.

Bobby Arnold, the city’s parks and recreation director, recently explained to the Eudora City Council that paint in the tank was bubbling.

He said it was likely a primer or too smooth a surface caused the problem when the tank was painted last year, and that water or other factors prevented the paint from curing.

“It’s in dire need of some serious repair,” Arnold said.

Powerwashing hadn’t removed the paint, but sandblasting would work, he said. Moreover, the city was fortunate to have a local pool professional willing to volunteer his time to sandblast the pool if the city provided the materials. Arnold estimated about $5,000 would be needed for sandblasting supplies.

Afterward, the city would need to spend about $2,000 on paint, said Mike Yanez, City Administrator. He said the city had budgeted about $10,000 for pool repairs, although $1,800 of that was going into a replacement pump now on order.

Although such repairs only spoke to the pool itself, Arnold said the department was working on repairs for locker rooms and other pool facilities that have drawn criticism from pool-goers.

Before approving expenditures for sandblasting and paint, Council member Tom Pyle said it was important to get the pool up to snuff. He said the city had an obligation to its residents, including the children who most often use the pool, especially if Eudora were in for a excessively hot summer.

Arnold presented photos of the facility to members of the Council.

“Looking at these pictures, there’s no way we could open the pool (as is),” said Council member Rex Burkhardt.