Board directs staff to prepare Land and Water Conservation grant application for pool-house renovation, authorizes up to $2,000 for application work

The Board of Aldermen on Sept. 2 directed city staff to prepare a 2026 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant application for renovations to the municipal pool house and approved up to $2,000 from the pool reserve to pay for application-related professional services. Why it matters: The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides matching grants for outdoor-recreation facilities. Aldermen said renovating the pool house will improve ADA accessibility and the facility’s usability, and applying for grant funds reduces the need to pursue larger local funding measures. Scope and process: Staff explained prior planning estimates placed pool-house renovation costs substantially lower than a full pool replacement; the pool-deck and expanded-amenity options were discussed as separate phases. Professional assistance (a firm that prepares required environmental assessments and application materials) will be needed; staff estimated those pre-application services at approximately $1,600 plus title-search or other minor fees. Budget action: The board amended the staff motion to authorize payment of up to $2,000 from the city’s pool reserve to cover preparatory costs for the grant application (environmental assessment, title search, and related consultant fees). That amendment was seconded and approved. Quotations and attribution: “If we want to commit to trying to get grant monies to help fund this, which I do not see ... I think we have to look for grants,” an alderman said during the discussion; staff noted the pool house fails current ADA standards for fixtures and circulation and that bringing the building up to code is a strong grant-application rationale. Next steps: Staff will proceed to prepare the grant application, work with consultants for required assessments, and return with the completed application and any matching-fund recommendations for aldermanic approval.