BENSON -- The indoor pool at Benson High School will reopen until the school district decides whether to repair it, Superintendent Carl Remmers said.
About 50 to 60 people came to the Benson School Board meeting Monday to discuss options for the pool, Remmers said.
The pool needs repairs and has been closed for about a month for testing. Repairing the pool will cost about $300,000, Remmers said.
Some residents are concerned that closing the pool will take away an indoor fitness option for the community. People with the gymnastics team were also at the meeting and said if the pool closes, the team would like the space for its practices. Currently, it uses the Benson Armory, where it has to take down its equipment after practices.
The board didn't make any decisions about the pool repairs Monday, but its building and grounds committee decided Tuesday morning to reopen the pool for the time being, Remmers said.
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The board discussed forming a committee of people interested in the pool to discuss options for it. People suggested several ideas at the meeting, including creating a fitness center, Remmers said.
The board plans to hire an architect and use community feedback to make its decision, Remmers said.
A report from USAquatics of Delano shows that several repairs and improvements to bring the pool up to code need to be made. The pool's main drains have corroded and the inlet piping is about 50 percent open. Pool and deck tile is coming loose and the pool does not have some required signs and markers, according to the report.
USAquatics also suggested the district install an updated automated chemical controller and a new disinfection system.
The repairs and upgrades alone would cost about $254,135, which doesn't include engineering fees, new electrical panels or an air exchange, Remmers said.
Annually, maintaining the pool costs about $22,649, which comes out of the general fund, he said.
The district's Community Education department charges swimmers $2 a time to use the pool. Community education also rents out the pool and has private swimming lessons and life guard training.
User and program fees have brought in $3,400.50 in revenue so far this school year. That's about $493 more than Community Education's costs to staff the pool. The pool has been used 1,526 times between September and February, according to district records.
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Also at the meeting, the board called for bids for repairs to part of the high school roof, window replacement at the junior high and ceiling repair in the Northside Elementary gymnasium. Those projects are estimated to cost $225,000.
The board also approved the 2006-07 calendar. Classes will start Sept. 5 and the last day of school will be May 31, 2007, as long as there are no snow days. Graduation is June 3, 2007.
