Parks Director John told the London Board of Park Commissioners that he will ask the city council on Sept. 22 for a $90,000 supplemental appropriation to cover shortfalls in the parks department budget and immediate repair needs at Seashore Waterpark and other facilities. “I’ll be asking the council for additional appropriation on September 22 at the city council meeting,” John said.

The request follows a broader budget reduction the department described as roughly $450,000 trimmed from the 2024 baseline during the 2025 budgeting process while the city also increased employee pay. John said the department absorbed pay raises for 15 full-time staff and roughly 70 seasonal employees and now faces multiple maintenance and replacement costs.

John provided a line-item list of identified needs, saying some items are “needs not wants.” He listed the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act–related grate replacement (about $14,000), refurbishment of two “defender” chlorination systems ($50,000 each; $100,000 total), UV sanitizer replacement ($7,500), a feature-pump refurbishment ($35,000), umbrella cable and pulley replacement at Memorial Pool ($20,000), chlorinators for both pools and the splash pad ($18,000), gutter-system replacement for both pools ($85,000), an incoming main pipe repair (about $2,000), and the 25‑year bucket truck replacement (about $197,000). John also mentioned a potential mower-rotation/replacement plan that could total about $500,000 but characterized that as a “want” rather than an immediate need.

John said warranties on several pool systems have expired (he cited 10-year warranties) and that delaying work risks longer outages: “They could break down at any moment, and then we’re down for a week, week and a half repairing the defenders,” he said. He also noted sharply higher operating costs for chemicals, saying the prices of chlorine and acid have roughly tripled in the past year (unit detail not specified in the meeting).

No formal board vote was taken on the supplemental request; John said the appropriation will be presented to the mayor and city council and that council approval is required. He described options the department could pursue, including leasing some equipment if council prefers that route.

The board approved routine business during the meeting: a motion to approve the August minutes and a motion to approve claims were both made, seconded and carried by voice vote.

If the council does not fund all items, John said the department will prioritize immediate health and safety needs at the pools and seek to maintain staffing: “I don’t foresee any problems, but I just wanted to make you aware that I will be asking for additionals,” he said.

The director also outlined next steps: the supplemental appropriation will be advertised and appear on the Sept. 22 city council agenda; larger capital replacements would be considered in future budget discussions and require council direction and funding.