Sierra Vista staff: Cove pool needs ~$800,000 in repairs and likely annual subsidy if reopened

City staff and a consultant told the Sierra Vista City Council at a special work session that bringing the Cove pool at the former Phil Sol country club to municipal code would require major repairs and likely an ongoing subsidy if the city reopens it to the public.

Laura Wilson, director of Parks and Recreation, said the city acquired the property “in as is condition” and that the pool is a gated, heated outdoor pool with a small hot tub. “The main pool is 2,500 square feet that allows for a maximum of 125 people within that space,” Wilson said. She also said the former country-club operation did not keep records useful to the city and did not meet public‑pool staffing and equipment requirements.

The council heard an engineering and code assessment from Aquatic Design Group. Parks and Recreation staff summarized the contractor’s findings: key “must do” code corrections center on replacing noncommercial pumps, filters and chemical‑feed systems and fixing accessibility shortfalls, while maintenance and electrical work were identified as near‑term replacement needs. John, a Parks and Recreation staff member who presented the assessment, told the council, “Total costs for all the code and maintenance concerns that came back from Aquatic Design Group was around $799 800,000, in order to get the…