Glenwood Aquatic Center Construction on Schedule

Construction of the Glenwood Aquatic Center is still on schedule, members of the Glenwood City Council were told last week during their regular meeting.

City administrator Brian Kissel and public works director Perry Cook said construction crews are actually ahead of schedule on some aspects of the $5 million project. The aquatic center is being constructed adjacent to the new auxiliary gymnasium at Glenwood Community High School.
“From my update with JEO (engineering consultants), some things are ahead of schedule and some are slightly behind, so they’re calling it a wash,” Kissel said.

The block foundation of the bathhouse is up and some concrete in the actual swimming pool area has been poured. Concrete at the deeper ends of the pool could be poured later this week.

The goal is to have the bathhouse building framed by the time winter weather rolls in.

“The issue they’ve had is scheduling the sub-contractors,” Kissel said. “They didn’t think the weather was going to be as nice as it’s been this fall.”

Kissel told the council he is continuing to have communications with members of the Vision Iowa committee and the city could be considered for a Community Attractions and Tourism (CAT) grant to cover the cost of lighting for nighttime swimming at the aquatic center. Kissel said the lighting would carry a price tag of more than $60,000. He expects to attend a future Vision Iowa meeting to discuss the possible grant.
Kissel said July 1, 2016, is still the city’s target date for the aquatic center opening.

Also on the city council’s agenda:
l Cook reported that last month’s fall clean-up days for city residents was a success. Citizens filled six 40-yard roll off trailers with general trash, four trailers with yard waste and two trailers with appliances and iron.
l Members of the budget and finance committee continued to discuss ways to make cuts that will help reduce and eliminate the city’s general fund deficit. Discussions will take place with department heads in the coming months to discuss finances as the council prepares to adopt its budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

Last month, the council failed to pass a measure (2-2 vote) that would have required council members to take a 10 percent ($5 per meeting) pay cut for regular meetings attended in 2015 and waive all their pay for special meetings this year. Mayor Kim Clark would have also been required to take a 10 percent cut in salary.

“We’re asking departments to cut their budgets and we need to do that as well,” council member Susan Hirschman said. “It won’t amount to much, but every little bit helps.”

Hirschman and Jessie Lundvall voted in favor of the pay cut, while Joe Edwards and Craig Florian voted “no.”

“I think we’re looking in the wrong place so I won’t be voting for it,” Edwards said.

City council members are paid $50 per meeting. The mayor receives an annual salary of $8125.