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WICD ABC NewsChannel 15 TOP STORIES VIDEO
PAXTON -- We're nowhere near summer but officials met here Thursday morning to talk about the town swimming pool.
A proposed state law would let cities keep their pools open this summer even if they're not in compliance with a new federal law. That Baker Pool Safety Act forced Paxton to close its pool. It requires the drain pipe to be at least a foot below the pool floor. The proposal would allow towns to keep the pool open while giving them until October to make repairs.
Among those in the small meeting were the Popels. The couple doesn't swim but has raised money for pool repairs because they think it's best for the town's children.
"They need the pool and they missed the pool last year," Gary Popel said, "We have children, we have great-grandchildren and we wanted them to have an opportunity to be able to swim and enjoy the pool like our children did when they were a lot younger than we are today."
State Rep. Jason Barickman (R-Champaign) sponsors a bill that would give towns until October 1 to renovate their pools.
"What it means to a town like Paxton or other communitiies is that they can hopefully open their pool this summer," Barickman said, "And when you consider the benefits our city pools have, hopefully we can get this done."
Under the Baker Pool Safety Act, the drain pipe must be one foot below the pool floor. In Paxton, the pipe is five inches below.
"In our instance the main drain has to be lowered roughly seven inches," said Park District Director Neal McKenry, "Or the main drain can stay where it is and the bottom of the pool would be raised."
So far, the Popels have helped raise $67,000 for repairs. McKenry says that should be enough.
"From everything I've been told, the company we've hired is thinking outside the box and is coming up with options that are actually lower than our estimates," he said.
That's why the Popels hope Barickman's bill would only be a back-up plan.
"Hopefully we have enough money to get everything right and get the pool open again," Popel said.
Towns would only be eligible for the October extension if they applied to comply with the act by this past October. Barickman plans to bring his bill to committee when lawmakers return to Springfield next month.
Reported by A.J. Bayatpour
A proposed state law would let cities keep their pools open this summer even if they're not in compliance with a new federal law. That Baker Pool Safety Act forced Paxton to close its pool. It requires the drain pipe to be at least a foot below the pool floor. The proposal would allow towns to keep the pool open while giving them until October to make repairs.
Among those in the small meeting were the Popels. The couple doesn't swim but has raised money for pool repairs because they think it's best for the town's children.
"They need the pool and they missed the pool last year," Gary Popel said, "We have children, we have great-grandchildren and we wanted them to have an opportunity to be able to swim and enjoy the pool like our children did when they were a lot younger than we are today."
State Rep. Jason Barickman (R-Champaign) sponsors a bill that would give towns until October 1 to renovate their pools.
"What it means to a town like Paxton or other communitiies is that they can hopefully open their pool this summer," Barickman said, "And when you consider the benefits our city pools have, hopefully we can get this done."
Under the Baker Pool Safety Act, the drain pipe must be one foot below the pool floor. In Paxton, the pipe is five inches below.
"In our instance the main drain has to be lowered roughly seven inches," said Park District Director Neal McKenry, "Or the main drain can stay where it is and the bottom of the pool would be raised."
So far, the Popels have helped raise $67,000 for repairs. McKenry says that should be enough.
"From everything I've been told, the company we've hired is thinking outside the box and is coming up with options that are actually lower than our estimates," he said.
That's why the Popels hope Barickman's bill would only be a back-up plan.
"Hopefully we have enough money to get everything right and get the pool open again," Popel said.
Towns would only be eligible for the October extension if they applied to comply with the act by this past October. Barickman plans to bring his bill to committee when lawmakers return to Springfield next month.
Reported by A.J. Bayatpour
Thursday, January 19 2012, 06:31 PM CST
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