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Augusta officials: Aquatic Center closed for fire‑alarm repairs; Henry Brigham pool needs broader mechanical fixes
Summary
City recreation staff told commissioners the Augusta Aquatic Center was closed after an inspection found its fire‑alarm system could not provide effective monitoring; parts procurement could take about two weeks. Henry Brigham Pool remains out of service because of boilers, sand filters and heat‑exchanger problems; staff said they will deliver cost estimates and seek funding and maintenance accountability.
Augusta’s recreation director told the commission on April 28 that the Augusta Aquatic Center was closed to the public after staff determined its fire‑alarm system could not provide reliable monitoring or safety notifications.
"We had to then call our vendor ... it's determined that we need to now have beam detectors added to the location of the aquatic center up kind of up in the rafters," Director Williams said, describing an emergency procurement to get parts and technicians in place. "As of this morning ... it will take about possibly 2 weeks" for parts to arrive and work to be completed.
Williams also reported multiple, ongoing problems at Henry Brigham Pool, including failing boilers, a malfunctioning humidifier, clogged sand filters and burnt wiring. "It seems like at that location, once we discover and try to fix something that's almost done and probably open up for 2 weeks, and then we set we'll shut back down again," Williams said, listing repeated breakdowns and the need to find funding to complete more comprehensive repairs.
Commissioners pressed staff about the procurement path, whether emergency procurement procedures were used for the Aquatic Center repairs, and whether the projects would be paid from the recreation budget or central services. Director Williams said some repairs are funded but not all: "Not all of it ... we don't have the dollars allocated to support and repair." The administrator agreed to provide estimated repair costs within a few days by email.
Why it matters: the Aquatic Center and Henry Brigham Pool host swim practices and programs that serve children, swim leagues and public users. Commissioners said minimizing downtime and communicating timing to user groups is a priority ahead of the swim season.
What’s next: staff will pursue emergency procurement for the fire‑alarm parts at the Aquatic Center, confirm technicians' scheduling, and return to the commission with cost estimates and funding options for Henry Brigham Pool repairs. Commissioners asked staff to consider maintenance funding and accountability to avoid recurring repairs.
