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Council takes 1st step toward new pool
By Steve Dunn/Gate City Managing Editor
A Platteville, Wis., firm will conduct a feasibility and marketing study for the Keokuk City Council that could lead to a new aquatic center, replacing the current municipal pool that is more than 50 years old.
During the city council workshop Thursday, the council agreed to spend $2,000 plus reimbursables for the study by Burbach Aquatics, Inc.
“The study will determine what will fit you now and in 25 years,” explained Roger Schamberger, director of marketing for the 29-year-old company that provides architectural and engineering services for municipal pools.
In agreeing to spend the money for the study, the five members present decided against a less expensive evaluation of what it would cost to upgrade the existing pool and convert it to a more modern facility with no frills. The technical evaluation would have cost $1,500 plus reimbursables.
Keokuk's current box-like pool is typical of the pools built after World War II, according to Schamberger.
“Back then,” he said, � percent of the people came to swim. Now, 30 percent come to swim and 70 percent come to socialize.”
Currently, the company has 35 ongoing pool projects in Iowa. It has designed new aquatic centers in such Iowa communities as Avoca, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Humboldt, Tama/Toledo, Tipton and Williamsburg.
The firm designed a 7,186-square-foot aquatic center in Lena, Ill., that opened in 1995 at a cost of $1.3 million. The facility in a town of 2,850 people drew 34,000 people two years ago compared to the 13,000 people who used Keokuk's pool last year.
The same company designed a 6,337-square-foot aquatic center in Avoca, population 1,610, which features a competition pool as well as a recreation pool.
The newer aquatic centers have other benefits besides recreational, Schamberger indicated.
“There are a lot of ways you can use a pool as an economic development tool as well as recreation,” he said.
The company offers several other services in addition to the feasibility and marketing study, including public opinion polling via the phone, architectural rendering, fund-raising support, referendum support and computer-generated models. The typical fund-raising campaign takes 12 to 18 months to complete, Schamberger said.
He showed several large pictures of projects that have been completed so far with the assistance of his company. The most common funding sources for those projects included donations, fund-raising, bonds, grants and using the cityís general fund.
If the council wants to proceed further, Burbach Aquatics, Inc. would provide the design and specifications.
“We'd come back with a recommended water surface,” Schamberger said.
All of the aquatic centers in his display had zero depth entry, and many, if not most, had slides. The company designs new pools mostly with high pressure sand filtration systems. Burbach Aquatics, Inc. offers a two-year warranty, which is one year more than the industry standard, Schamberger said.
He also suggested providing a heated pool in the aquatic center so that it could be used earlier in the year and day for such activities as swim lessons. The water in heated pools stays about 82 to 84 degrees, he said.
Although Keokuk's pool still gets good reports from the health department, Public Works Director Bill Richards has suggested the council start to seriously consider replacing the facility in Tolmie Park.
A new aquatic center was one of the prime pieces of the proposed Gate City Parks Project a few years ago. It was estimated to cost $3.9 million at the time and included a “lazy” river. Schamberger told the council the price of aquatic centers increases 10 to 18 percent a year with inflation.
The council will take money from the city's infrastructure fund to pay for the study. Mayor David Gudgel said economic development funds also could be used to pay for the study.
During the city council workshop Thursday, the council agreed to spend $2,000 plus reimbursables for the study by Burbach Aquatics, Inc.
“The study will determine what will fit you now and in 25 years,” explained Roger Schamberger, director of marketing for the 29-year-old company that provides architectural and engineering services for municipal pools.
In agreeing to spend the money for the study, the five members present decided against a less expensive evaluation of what it would cost to upgrade the existing pool and convert it to a more modern facility with no frills. The technical evaluation would have cost $1,500 plus reimbursables.
Keokuk's current box-like pool is typical of the pools built after World War II, according to Schamberger.
“Back then,” he said, � percent of the people came to swim. Now, 30 percent come to swim and 70 percent come to socialize.”
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The firm designed a 7,186-square-foot aquatic center in Lena, Ill., that opened in 1995 at a cost of $1.3 million. The facility in a town of 2,850 people drew 34,000 people two years ago compared to the 13,000 people who used Keokuk's pool last year.
The same company designed a 6,337-square-foot aquatic center in Avoca, population 1,610, which features a competition pool as well as a recreation pool.
The newer aquatic centers have other benefits besides recreational, Schamberger indicated.
“There are a lot of ways you can use a pool as an economic development tool as well as recreation,” he said.
The company offers several other services in addition to the feasibility and marketing study, including public opinion polling via the phone, architectural rendering, fund-raising support, referendum support and computer-generated models. The typical fund-raising campaign takes 12 to 18 months to complete, Schamberger said.
He showed several large pictures of projects that have been completed so far with the assistance of his company. The most common funding sources for those projects included donations, fund-raising, bonds, grants and using the cityís general fund.
If the council wants to proceed further, Burbach Aquatics, Inc. would provide the design and specifications.
“We'd come back with a recommended water surface,” Schamberger said.
All of the aquatic centers in his display had zero depth entry, and many, if not most, had slides. The company designs new pools mostly with high pressure sand filtration systems. Burbach Aquatics, Inc. offers a two-year warranty, which is one year more than the industry standard, Schamberger said.
He also suggested providing a heated pool in the aquatic center so that it could be used earlier in the year and day for such activities as swim lessons. The water in heated pools stays about 82 to 84 degrees, he said.
Although Keokuk's pool still gets good reports from the health department, Public Works Director Bill Richards has suggested the council start to seriously consider replacing the facility in Tolmie Park.
A new aquatic center was one of the prime pieces of the proposed Gate City Parks Project a few years ago. It was estimated to cost $3.9 million at the time and included a “lazy” river. Schamberger told the council the price of aquatic centers increases 10 to 18 percent a year with inflation.
The council will take money from the city's infrastructure fund to pay for the study. Mayor David Gudgel said economic development funds also could be used to pay for the study.
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