WELLINGTON NORTH – The Township of Wellington North may be down a pool this summer as problems keep piling on to the Mount Forest outdoor pool.
A staff report being discussed at a special Wellington North council meeting on Friday recommends keeping the Mount Forest Lion Roy Grant Pool closed for the season due to numerous repairs needed and lack of adequate lifeguard staff for it and the Arthur Pool.
The report stated during the opening inspection of the Mount Forest pool this spring, the liner in the deep end had failed and would need to be replaced in order to open for the 2022 season.
This would come at a cost of $170,000.
The pool recirculation system was also found to need work which would include concrete work at approximately $20,000.
“Public health has noted problems with the return skimmers in shallow end which adversely affects the turnover rate and filtration of the shallow area of the pool,” the report stated.
As of June 1, the timeline to complete pool liner repairs was estimated to be two to three weeks but no work has been scheduled as of June 16. The report said once the liner is repaired they would need an additional week to fill, test and make the pool operational and noted the best case scenario for opening would be late-July.
Beyond physical problems to the pool, the report noted the township is also facing a difficult staffing situation where adequate staffing of both pools would not be possible.
As per the report, the township has four full-time and four part-time lifeguards. Based on regulations regarding the minimum number of lifeguards to bathers, Wellington North staff have worked out a schedule where two lifeguards are on duty at all times and sometimes three.
“If the Mount Forest Pool were to be fixed this summer with the intention of it being opened, that would mean that the Arthur Pool would have to close,” the report stated, later adding alternating days would severely impact the lesson schedule.
The report stated staff are not recommending the township provide a transportation option for those in Mount Forest to get to Arthur due to logistics problems.
Wellington North council is expected to make a decision on how to proceed at a special meeting Friday afternoon starting at 2 p.m.
Full report can be found here.
