City votes in favor of reducing season pass by 25 percent
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The opening of Elkhorn’s new Sunset Park pool is now expected to be delayed a few weeks due to some changes in the construction timeline.
Mayor Brian Olson said at Monday’s City of Elkhorn Common Council meeting the city hopes to have the pool open in a best case scenario and barring any severe delays the week of June 22, a slight setback from the previously hoped opening.
The delay comes due to an issue with curing the concrete used for the base of the pool prior to applying a plaster coating on top of it, according to Olson. Olson said the cure time needed for the concrete prior to applying the plaster was not specified in specifications.
Under the manufacturer’s warranty for the plaster, Olson said it requires contractors to wait 28 days prior to pouring plaster onto fresh concrete. Olson said they have worked with the manufacturer of the plaster and they will honor the warrantee for a 15-day cure, with that 15-day timeline starting last Friday.
Alderman Scott McClory asked if this process of applying plaster to a pool was industry standard, questioning why concrete wasn’t poured sooner if it is.
Olson said in talking with MSA they came down to the same conclusion, that it was a contractor error, and oversight that wasn’t in there specifications.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said the architects have been notified someone needs to be working daily on the project, something he said they said is more of a contractor issue.
Under the contract, Tapson said there is a liquidated damages clause, a reasonable amount of money as a fine for each day past scheduled project completion. Tapson said in talking with Carter Arndt, the project architect from MSA Professional Services leading the project, Arndt felt liquidated damages could be justified in this case.
City Attorney Ward Phillips recommended to the council they discontinue discussion on the topic, as it is something that might be better fit for a future closed session meeting.
While training could have prolonged the opening even longer, Olson said Monday the city’s Parks and Recreation Director Wendy Meyer was able to work with Elkhorn Area High School, using its pool to get some training days for personnel cut down.
As the opening of the pool is being delayed, losing a quarter of a season, Olson recommended the council adjust the rates for season passes for the pool, reducing them by 25 percent, especially considering the Parks and Recreation Department is running a special at this week’s Night Under the Lights Festival; $5 off an individual season pass and $10 off a family season pass.
Alderman Jim D’Alessandro said Monday night the parks and recreation department would be selling passes this weekend based on a week of June 22 opening, but questioned what would happen if the pool opening was pushed back further.
In that event, Olson said if it weren’t open at that point there would be other options, such as cutting a deal for those who purchase 2015 season passes.
“Say you’re delayed another seven days, you could always say bring your season pass in from 2015 and you get two weeks, or something to that effect,” he said.
The Council voted unanimously in favor of reducing rates for the upcoming season.
For more information about rates for the 2015 season, contact the recreation department at (262) 741-5114.
