Consider a 4th Option for WSCC Pool
by Cindy Muller
January 24, 2024
At the January 15 West Shore Community + College (WSCC) board of trustees meeting, three options regarding the pool were presented to the trustees. In my opinion there is one more option.
The three presented were:
Upgrade the natatorium
Upgrade the Pool Only
Close the Pool and Convert the Natatorium to Another Function
The options did not fully consider recommendations from the audit report by the engineering firm of Counsilman-Hunsaker, an expert on aquatics, given to WSCC on Sept. 21, 2023
Neither the natatorium nor the pool need to be upgraded. It is not necessary to increase the general fund subsidy associated with the recreation center as was stated as part of option 1 and 2. The pool needs some basic repairs and maintenance, which according to the engineering report should cost considerably less than two million dollars.
If the third option is chosen, WSCC will not only lose a valuable asset to the community, but the re-use of the natatorium will also more likely cost more than upgrading either the natatorium or the pool. I would like the trustees to consider a fourth option: Repair and Maintain the Pool in accordance with the recommendations from the Engineering Audit.
Option 4 preserves a valuable asset to the community. Work with the community to protect the health and safety of the residents that WSCC serves. As an added benefit, option 4 will be the least costly of the three previously presented options.
I believe WSCC is relying in part on the engineer’s audit report to determine whether to continue to maintain and operate the pool or close it. The sum of $2.1 to $2.2 million to upgrade the pool that was presented to the board of trustees at the Jan. 15 meeting included $1.6 million of repairs and an additional $500 to $600 thousand for design fees, and other contingencies. When reviewing the report, it shows that the cost of repairs is considerably lower than the amount of $1.6 million presented to the board, the pool structure appears good, replacing cast iron piping with PVC and other mechanical upgrades are needed. These are not major costs in the report.
Upon reading, the Opinion of Probable Cost is a menu of costs, it is not a cost estimate. One has to read the report and make choices. As stated in the report, prior to the costs, “some line items render other options not applicable”. When totaled all repair and upgrade costs equal $1.9 million.
When closely reviewed, some of the items to consider are the cost of The Myrtha RenovAction Structure at $735,000 . This is reviewed in Appendix C as a choice, with a 25-year guarantee. In the report section on Structures and Finishes it states, “no evidence of cracks…nor are there concerns structurally….” The Myrtha RenovAction Structure is not included in the recommendations for structure and finishes.
The report mentions that the natatorium does not have a dehumidification system, however, it is not in the recommendations for the natatorium to install one. The cost of the dehumidification system is $350,000 in the opinion of probable costs.
The replacement of existing 1x1 tiles with 2x2 tiles is not in the recommendations under structures and finishes. There is some grouting and minor tile repair that needs to be done, however the line item cost of $238,500 for total re-decking of the pool is not recommended
Just the three items above would eliminate $1,323,500 from the cost estimate presented to the board. This would bring the cost of repairs from approximately $1.6 million to $600,000
Choices need to be made. This report is an option of choices not a cost estimate. Instead of voting for options 1, 2, or 3, it is my sincere hope that the trustees at WSCC choose option 4, repairing and maintaining the pool, with the recommendation items from the report. I cannot see why WSCC would choose to eliminate a community asset that does so much to contribute to the health and safety of the surrounding community. Option 4 is a win-win for all!
Cindy Muller
Cindy Muller, AIA, NCARB, is the past president and current treasurer of Muller & Muller, Ltd (M2) an architecture firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas and Peoria. Along with her husband, they built a home in Ludington in 2011 and became permanent residents in 2021. She was pleased to discover the WSCC Pool in 2022.