Main Pool Repair Project Update #1 (Aug 2024)

Over the course of the last few meetings, the Board has been discussing and formulating a plan of attack for the looming main pool repair/rehab project. For context, the main pool and all related components is nearing 50 years of age, well into the tail-end of the estimated lifespan for pool equipment/parts. In 2019, the Board had discussed starting this rehab project, but then decided to focus on the two side pool pump rooms instead, as those were in much worse shape.

Once the side pools were done, the Board contracted with a project management vendor who could help kickstart the main pool rehab project. The first step was an inspection of the main pool and all components, to get an idea of the condition and urgency. The vendor looked at the pool shell, the coping that surrounds the pool, the skimmers, and the pool deck. They also looked at everything inside the pump room under the pergola area – the heaters, pipes, drains, pumps, and filters.

This inspection was recently completed and the vendor and their pool contractors who assisted with the inspection all agreed that this work should be completed within the next 1-2 years. They believed that a three year timeline would really be pushing it given the condition of some of these components and the pool deck. The good news is they didn’t see anything urgent that needed to be addressed immediately – they think that with some minor band aid fixes, the pool should realistically make it through the 2025 and 2026 swim seasons without issue. The vendors all recommend handling both the pool deck, shell, and pump room repairs simultaneously, rather than splitting them up into phases that can be completed in staggered years. The project manager also provided an estimated cost for this work, which unfortunately is significantly higher than we are currently allocating for in our reserves.

The Board reviewed this report at their July meeting and agreed that the target date for this project should be the fall of 2026, and that we should get started as quickly as possible to avoid any delays like we experienced with the side pool project. The difference for this project is that we will have a project management firm on contract to oversee the project, given the size and scope.

The next step for the Board is related to finances – it needs to evaluate how to best address what appears to be a rather large gap between what we’ve been reserving for this project and what this project will actually cost, now that we have a good estimate from an experienced vendor. That plan will likely be decided this month given the budget meeting will be the first week of September. The project is estimated to cost roughly $1.2 million in total (but that is just a very early estimate) and we are currently reserving around $500,000. The Board will begin conversations about how to address this at open meetings this month. Keep your eyes out for a meeting notice if the Board does decided to hold a special meeting to talk about this issue specifically.