Memorial Pool needs more money for more studies

City already spent around $5,000 for assessment
and $20,000 on survey about swimming

The pool battle continues in La Crosse but the neighborhood surrounding the area needs more money for it.

After already spending $2,000 on an initial study, the Grandview Emerson Neighborhood Association (GENA) says it needs to raise another $4,000 to pay Michigan-based Isaac Sports Group (ISG) to finish the assessment of 78-year-old Memorial Pool near the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

In June, the city paid Burbach Aquatics $4,950 for a feasibility study, which concluded that replacing the pool – not fixing it – would be the better route. The firm determined replacing the pool would cost $4.4 million, while fixing it would cost $3.9 million.

GENA says its study has come up with cheaper figures and would fill in any holes – no pun intended, though the pool leaks an estimated 7,500-18,000 gallons a day – from the 56-page report from Burbach.

“It would cost about $2.5 million, which is about 300,000 less than the lowest bid that the city’s contractor came up with,” neighborhood resident Kraig Brownell said at a meeting Wednesday. “And the guarantee would be that the liner for the pool would last at least 15 years, leak free.”

The initial Burbach study said a replacement pool would last 50 years, while replacing it would only last 25.

The city does have between $1 million – $2.5 million set aside for rehab or replacement for the pool in next year’s proposed budget. Those numbers, however, were settled before the pool was given a historical designation earlier this year.

The ISG study details will be disclosed at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at La Crosse City Hall during another community meeting. ISG could, apparently, start on repairs soon, if allowed by the city.

After the getting the report from Burbach, the city went ahead with a $20,000 survey that would select 3,000 La Crosse residents to gauge views on pools, swimming and amenities, apparently. The survey, conducted by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse assistant professor John Kovari, was expected to get a 20-percent response rate – or 600 responses – with a 4-percent margin of error in those responses.

Some examples of survey questions included:

• What kind of pool you use – whether it’s a beach or a pool
• How frequently you use that pool? 
• What do you use that pool for, recreational, therapeutic?

The city is expecting to cut several million dollars from its budget next month. Brownell adds if the pool isn’t reopened soon, it could be another 4-5 years before the area gets another facility. 

The pool was closed officially mid-May. Here’s a look at just a few of the recommendations from the Burbach report:  

• Replace the failed wall sections, approximately 34 sections.
• Replace areas of deterioration.
• Replace entire pool decking.
• Replace surge tank.
• Replace gutter system.
• Replace main drain system.
• Replace filter system ASAP, safety hazard.
• Replace all pumps.
• Replace/renovate bathhouse to current design standards and building codes.
• Replace mechanical system electrical.