Resident accuses city manager of misleading council over pool leaks as members weigh repairs

Tony DeMoore, a resident, used the public-comment period to summarize documents he said he obtained through right-to-know requests and to accuse city officials of misrepresenting the extent of leaks at the municipal pool. "If you told the truth, you would no longer have a reason to downsize the pool," DeMoore said, asserting that earlier weld repairs reduced water loss from about 13,000 gallons per day to roughly 2,000 gallons per day and urging the manager and mayor to resign.

The Pool Committee, which held its second meeting March 3, reported to council earlier in the meeting that the committee invited Mr. Russ Snelleck, the pool's contracted caretaker for about 25 years, to share operational knowledge and concerns. Committee members said they used an engineering report from Stahl/Sheaffer and contractor input to produce a short-term action plan focusing on two priority items: replacement of deep-end drain/water-return basins and refurbishment or leveling of the concrete deck surrounding the pool. Committee representatives said they are completing a steel-thickness analysis of floor and wall panels and pressure-testing drain lines; those results will determine whether repairs are feasible and the likely cost.

Council members who spoke during comments — including Shane and Alex — said they support keeping the pool open if it is safe and economically workable. "Nobody wants to just close the pool and say that's it," Alex said, noting the facility is more than 62 years old and that the council and pool committee are pursuing multiple repair options and contractor estimates. Shane thanked committee volunteers for their work and said the city is trying its best to explore options.

DeMoore provided email and text excerpts and said he had overlaid proposed replacement designs against the existing pool to argue a proposed smaller facility would substantially reduce swimmable area. He also told council he had been told by the pool caretaker that, after welds were made in spring 2025, major leaks were fixed and the loss had dropped to about 2,000 gallons per day.

The manager did not offer a substantive response to DeMoore's accusations during the public-comment period recorded in the transcript. Council members emphasized they are awaiting the committee's technical analyses and contractor estimates before making decisions about the pool's size or long-term plan. The committee and staff said next steps include completing the steel analysis and pressure testing and returning to council with cost estimates and feasibility findings.

The meeting record shows no formal direction to staff to adopt a specific repair or replacement path and no vote on pool funding or size during this session.