FRACKVILLE — The completion deadline of the borough swimming pool project has been extended due to the COVID-19 restrictions on construction projects in the state.
The Frackville Borough Council was updated on the project by its solicitor Mark Semanchik on Wednesday evening. The council held its meeting in person in the municipal building instead of a virtual meeting. The borough council, officials and the public were properly social distanced, as were the public, who were limited as to the number who could be in attendance. Everyone was required to wear face masks.
“Based on the circumstances that I think have been well documented, both of the contractors on that project are requesting a 60-day extension to their work schedule, which would put them out to July 24,” Semanchik said. “That’s the completion day projected as of now, but that is all conditional based on the availability of materials once the contractors get back to work.”
The council accepted the reception of four bids on Sept. 5, 2019, for the project. Premier Pool Renovations, Plymouth Meeting, submitted the low bid of $922,245, which includes the removal of the current pool and construction of the new one at the same location ($829,495), provide and install new perimeter fence ($4,950), and the construction of a new filtration building complete with plumbing, electrical systems and associated landscaping ($67,800).
The second contractor is Heim Construction Company Inc., Orwigsburg. The contract is $378,156 for the construction of a new bathhouse, which includes changing areas, restrooms, a concession stand and a small storage area.
The target for opening the new swimming pool was June or July 2020, with the hope that it would be completed by the Memorial Day weekend.
The project has received two major state grants totaling $942,000. The borough was awarded in December 2017 a $742,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program. The program is funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund (Key 93), the Environmental Stewardship Fund (Growing Greener 1) and several federal funding sources.
The current pool in Memorial Park was constructed in 1978. The last year it opened was 2014. In early 2015, deterioration in the walls was discovered, and after an engineering study, it was found that three of the six pool walls had pulled away, and the south and west walls had cracks large enough to fit a hand into them. All of the filtration buckets are also cracked.
The pool company began work late last year dismantling as much of the current pool as possible in order to meet the Memorial Day opening date.
Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023