Adrian commissioners pause further spending on 54‑year‑old Bone Pool, direct staff to secure swim lesson alternatives

Adrian City Commission on Monday voted to stop further investment in Bone Pool for the time being and directed Parks and Recreation Director Jeremiah Davies to work with local organizations on alternatives for swim lessons and open‑swim access next summer.

The commission’s motion, moved by Commissioner Behnke and seconded by Commissioner Casselberry, passed unanimously on a roll call vote. Mayor Angela Sore Heath and all six commissioners voted “yes.”

The action follows an extended staff update and discussion about recurring leaks and failing infrastructure at Bone Pool, the city’s 54‑year‑old outdoor pool. Davies told the commission the most recent emergency was a cracked 14‑inch return line discovered earlier in September and that temporary fixes may cost “roughly 8 to 10K” on the low end, while other components — including a slide pump and the pool liner — also show advanced deterioration.

“[W]e’re past its life expectancy,” Davies said during his presentation, describing a sequence in which one repair has repeatedly led to another failure. He said contractors have warned that retrofits may not fit the pool’s old fixtures and that even a $10,000 temporary repair could be wiped out if the vinyl liner fails over the winter.

Commissioners pressed staff on use, costs and alternatives. Davies reported the pool’s operating deficit this year is about $90,000 and that the city has spent roughly $500,000 across recent phases of work on the pool building and mechanical systems. He said a splash pad similar to Parish Park’s — about $130,000 — is one of the less expensive replacement options the commission has examined; replacing the pool footprint as designed in prior community planning was previously estimated at roughly $3.5–5 million.

Commissioners emphasized the pool’s public‑safety and lessons role: Davies estimated more than 100 children learned to swim at Bone Pool this summer, and several commissioners said preserving swim‑lesson access for children is a high priority. Commissioners discussed interim partnerships with Adrian Public Schools, the YMCA and local swim organizations to provide lessons and open‑swim opportunities while the city determines a long‑term course.

The motion adopted by the commission instructs Davies to work with local entities to establish swim lessons and open‑swim opportunities for city residents next summer and to continue developing longer‑term options in the city’s parks plan. Several commissioners said they opposed spending more on ad‑hoc repairs while the city decides whether to downsize, replace, or otherwise reconfigure the facility.

Davies told the commission that, if the commission wants the pool open next summer, the cracked return line must be fixed before winter and staff should pursue repairs while the pool remains full. He cautioned, however, that even timely repairs carry risk because contractors report parts may not fit and that pool contractors are currently booked 2–3 years out for full rebuilds.

The commission also discussed funding sources. Davies said Phase 2 work this year has been paid using a distribution from the city’s oil and gas fund and that the city cannot use its fee estate fund for pool maintenance or new pool construction.

What the commission approved: no further investment in Bone Pool at this time and a charge to the parks director to secure alternatives for next summer and to continue planning for a longer‑term solution.

The commission did not adopt a resolution to demolish or replace the pool at this meeting; commissioners said the winter is the appropriate time to plan and that a decision about substantial capital work would follow further study and community input.

The vote: Motion moved by Commissioner Behnke; second by Commissioner Casselberry. Roll call: Mayor Angela Sore Heath — yes; Commissioner Roberts — yes; Commissioner Schwartz — yes; Commissioner Behnke — yes; Commissioner Miller — yes; Commissioner Casselberry — yes; Commissioner Gauss — yes. Outcome: approved.

Looking ahead: Commissioners instructed staff to develop a plan this fall and winter, including outreach to the Adrian Public Schools and YMCA and possible donor or grant opportunities, so residents have swim‑lesson options if Bone Pool is closed for reconstruction.