Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ulster County lawmakers sign off on amended bond package for $6.6M of pool upgrade amid sticker shock
Summary
After lengthy questioning about an $11.1M project estimate and how grants and scope changes raised costs, the committee adopted amended bonding of $6,625,500 for the Ulster County pool upgrade; members pressed staff on contingency, spray‑ground design, bathhouse additions, and schedule risks.
Ulster County lawmakers voted July 14 to adopt an amended bonding authorization that will fund part of a planned county pool upgrade after a prolonged committee discussion about rising costs, scope changes and grant offsets.
The full project bid presented this summer was roughly $11.1 million, up from earlier planning estimates, prompting detailed questions from legislators about what drove the increase. Deputy Executive Laval and project consultants said the increase reflected a number of factors, including a $1 million contingency that was not in earlier planning numbers; a decision to move to a recycled‑water spray ground (the consultant said this added roughly $1.5 million compared with an earlier $400,000 planning estimate); the addition of a bathhouse with locker, shower, and a heated employee restroom and shower (roughly $1 million); a 0‑entry design that preserves the pool’s competitive function (about $800,000); and general construction inflation for pumps, trades and concrete.
"There is no single element," Deputy Executive Laval said. "Our initial estimate in the grant application was $400,000 for the spray ground. It is closer to $2,000,000 as it currently is through the bid, and that's a very big jump." The deputy executive and designers argued recycled, filtered systems provide long‑term operating and water‑use benefits.
County staff clarified the county’s net exposure is less than the headline figure because the project includes grant support: roughly $3.92 million from a DASL grant and approximately $500,000 in Empire State Development funding, leaving a smaller county share to be bonded and financed over time.
Committee members repeatedly expressed "sticker shock" but also emphasized urgency to avoid another pool shutdown. "Our pool is frequently at capacity... When it's shut down, there's less folks using our pool," a member said, urging the project be advanced to preserve next season.
After discussion the committee approved the amended bond resolution, authorizing bonding of $6,625,500 for the project. Several members asked staff to continue to pursue additional decarbonization funds, value‑engineering opportunities and state grants to reduce county debt service.
Next steps: Staff will proceed with the capital project as amended, pursue outstanding grants and report back on any additional scope/value‑engineering options before final contract amendments.
