By Melissa Burnor
There will be no swimming lessons, no hanging out at the outdoor pool or water aerobics this year. Blissfield village officials have closed the Gail Giles Pool indefinitely due to concerns over its condition and the uncertainty of whether it can be repaired or will need to be replaced. Until engineers can determine the extent of the deterioration and whether it can be replaced or repaired village officials are uncertain what the expectations are. Unfortunately, officials say that no matter what the engineers say should be done with the pool, how they will proceed is questionable.
“We don’t have the money to do it right now,” village administrator Jim Wonacott said, “regardless of the option.” Village officials said they may have to ask taxpayers whether they may be willing to fund the renovations and repairs or perhaps a new pool through a millage.
Wonacott said there is deterioration of the concrete shell and liner. The extent of the deterioration of the shell can’t be established unless the liner is peeled away . But Wonacott said several months ago that the deterioration can be felt by pressing into the liner.
The second area of concern is the pump for the main filtration system of the pool. The apparatus was damaged during the flood last summer causing the pool to be shut down for several weeks while the pump was repaired. It was hard for the company who repaired it to find parts for it due to the age of the equipment.
(For the complete story, please see the March 30, 2016, edition of The Advance.)