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‘Getting torn apart’: Rising repair costs have Mendota considering building new pool · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Written by Matthias Warner This article is being read by an automated
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  voice, brought to you by Everlett. A new community pool may be
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  coming to Mendota, following comments from Mayor Dave Bulk at the Tuesday,
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  September 8th meeting of the Mendota City Council. Bulk said that the
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  rise in anticipated repair costs for the existing pool, has forced the
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  city to consider the construction of a new community swimming pool. We've
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  been getting torn apart about this pool, Balk said. We thought it
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  was going to be 1.1 million, but before it's over with, it's
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  going to be a 1.5 million band-aid, and I don't like band-aids.
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  The evaluation that led to the pool's closure earlier this year indicated
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  the necessary repairs to the Mendota pool would cost between 1.10 and
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  1.2 million for the city. With that figure rising, Boelk and city
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  officials are taking steps to pursue a new pool. I like doing
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  things right when we do them, which takes money, Bulk said. Last
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  week I went out and got some bond figures for five million
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  dollars, six million dollars, and seven million dollars just as a starting
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  point for the council. Bulk said a final decision on whether the
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  city continues with the repair process or opts for a new community
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  pool will happen in the next 45 days. This is going to
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  take some discussion. I just wanted the public to be well informed
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  and have there be no surprises, Bulk said. According to a statement
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  from the city, the issuing of a long term municipal bond that
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  could result in an additional property tax obligation for residents over approximately
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  fifteen years is a possible source of funds for The
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  new pool Bulkan City Clerk Emily McConville gave an example that a
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  resident's obligation to cover the cost of the pool would be roughly
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  1,200,$230 on a 200,000 house. The
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  City current pool repair process with the Illinois Department of Public Health
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  will not be interrupted by these discussions. If the city chooses to
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  go with the repair route, the anticipated opening date for the pool
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  in 207 is around June 1st. If the city chooses to go
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  with a full pool replacement, the timetable for residents to have a
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  community pool available will be longer and Bulk did not say with
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  any confidence how long that could take. Our goal is not simply
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  to reopen the pool as quickly as possible, but to carefully determine
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  what investment provides the greatest value and the most sustainable future for
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  our community, the city's statement read. The city will continue to provide
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  updates its costs, financing options, and project alternatives become clearer and before
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  any final decision is made.