Service Director Alan Pennington told the University Heights Recreation Committee on June 16 that crews completed several fixes at Burris Park Pool this season and are now tracking multiple maintenance needs that could require budget adjustments.

"So far, this year, we have replaced the ice machine at the, in the pool, as well as the 2 microwaves," Pennington said. "We have painted both the men's and women's restrooms ... we did repair a roof leak ... we did place a new clock outside the lifeguard stand."

The committee was told of several larger items that remain unresolved. Pennington said the pool's water-slide motor had a catastrophic failure and "it's not going to be able to be rebuilt." He said staff are obtaining pricing for a new motor; depending on parts availability installation could take "a week to 2 weeks." Pennington warned the city may need a budget amendment for the emergency repair.

The committee discussed preventive maintenance versus running equipment to failure. Councilman Cooney urged a more predictive schedule, saying the city should plan for spare parts and planned replacement rather than only responding to breakdowns. Pennington said routine opening- and end-of-season maintenance is performed but there is not a formal replacement schedule for major pumps and impellers.

Other technical items and cost estimates discussed included: one replacement chlorine/pH control unit (Hayward "CAT" unit) with sensors at an estimated $3,289; sand-filter work and replacement laterals (one lateral was replaced in 2021); and a need for new or additional sensors on the chemical control system. Pennington said a new CAT unit with sensors is likely to be needed "sooner rather than later."

Pennington also reported preliminary contact with American Leak Detection to locate a suspected pool leak. He provided the company's prior fall rates to the committee: $995 for the first two hours, about $300 per hour after that, and $200 for pressure test/locating work, and said the company could not estimate total hours without inspection. Leak detection requires the pool to be full and, because some testing is destructive, repair work would take place after the pool is emptied, with most repairs phased into the fall and following spring if needed.

On operations and technology, Pool Manager Christine Koteka said the front-desk desktop used for pass scans is old (dated to about 2015) and staff would prefer two iPads that could run the pass portal. Committee members signaled support for buying two tablets within the existing recreation budget allocation (the previous year's line was about $1,500) and for adding a cordless barcode scanner to speed check-in on busy nights.

On revenue and use, Pennington provided updated figures showing year-to-date pool gross sales through June 16 at $73,171.25 compared with $56,481.25 at the same point last year. Pass sales were 1,134 through the same period in 2025 versus 1,074 in 2024. Pennington said lessons and concessions were roughly similar to last year.

Several committee members urged the city to commission a professional evaluation of the pool's remaining useful life and options for rehabilitation or replacement. City staff and committee members noted the city has a recreation bond that is paid off in 2029 and that bond capacity could factor into long-term planning. Committee members recommended the city issue an RFQ to find pool engineering firms to evaluate whether to extend the existing pool's life or to rebuild.

The committee did not take a formal vote to start a procurement; staff were asked to gather cost estimates for the slide motor, leak-detection work and to research the cost of hiring a pool-rehabilitation consultant. Pennington said he would provide updated pricing when available and would coordinate with the finance committee on any needed budget adjustments.