Carbondale commission says aquatic center near completion; plaster delay, contingency and staffing remain focal points

The Carbondale Parks and Recreation Commission was told April 8 that work on the towns new aquatic center is approaching completion but that weather and late-stage change orders are still affecting the schedule and budget. Chair Hollis Sutherland opened the meeting and staff gave an update on construction progress and operations.

"Certificate of occupancies still remain scheduled for 05:11," a project representative said, outlining the near-term milestone while noting a freeze disrupted planned plastering of the lap pool. The spa and recreation pool already have plaster on their surfaces and crews are testing pumps and chemical feeders, the representative added.

Staff described the projects contingency tracking: "we have about a 172,000 in our owner's contingency" and construction contingency tracking "about $12,674," according to the construction report presented to the commission. The presenters said multiple potential change orders remain under review to determine which contingency pool—owner or construction—will cover each item.

Brian, the staff operations lead presenting the program plan, said the commissions goal for full-season hours is to operate the facility roughly 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, with initial hours likely adjusted in the first weeks of operation. "Our hope when we're at full capacity and operations with lifeguards and kicking off through the summer is 7 to 7, Monday through Friday," he said.

Commissioners pressed on staffing and training. Brian said the town is hiring lifeguards and swim instructors and plans back-to-back certification weekends in May; the department is seeking two aquatic supervisors to share operational responsibilities. He also said the department is working around workforce constraints, including housing availability for supervisory candidates.

The commission was told staff plans a closed "operational trial" (described as a public test or "guinea pig day") on Saturday, May 16, to exercise systems before opening and a donor-focused grand opening event on Thursday, May 21. Staff cautioned that final closeout payments on some grants will depend on showing the facility functional to granting agencies.

Members thanked maintenance and construction staff for progress but emphasized that remaining punch-list items and the outcome of pending change-order decisions will influence final project costs and the timing of full public access. The commission voted earlier in the meeting to approve the minutes; no other formal actions were taken on the pool project during the session.

Next procedural steps noted by staff include continued contingency reconciliation, completion of lap-pool plastering when weather permits, final commissioning of mechanical systems and completing necessary certifications for seasonal hires.