HUMBOLDT — Humboldt’s plans to manage its swimming pool this summer fell victim to fine print in a contract with USA Pools, a Georgia corporation. COUNCIL MEMBERS put off until their May 11 meeting a decision on whether to use some form of chemical fogging to control mosquitoes this summer. IN OTHER news:
USA and Humboldt agreed to a three-year contract in 2013 for the national group to manage the pool, including chemicals, for about $50,000 a year. All went reasonably well the first year, but in 2014 management, in the opinion of many residents and council members, disintegrated to a woeful level.
After Monday night’s meeting council member Sunny Shreeve said she spent much of last summer trying to keep the pool on even keel. “Guess I can do it again this year,” if needed, she allowed.
To get out of the contract, council was to inform the Georgia firm by Sept. 15, which it did not do.
“I have had multiple discussions with USA management and have been unable to be released from the contract,” said Cole Herder, city administrator. “At this point, they are generating a proposal to address the management and safety concerns that we have.
“I’m very disappointed,” but “the bottom line is we signed a contract and there’s no way to get out of it,” he added.
Mayor Nobby Davis was just as pragmatic: “We just have to make the best of it this year,” with the expectation of having control of the pool in 2016.
While Herder wasn’t specific about problems with the pool during the 2014 season, he did say management and its appeal were “terrible,” including safety issues.
Meanwhile, Herder recommended putting off any plans to repaint the interior of the pool. Herder said experts have advised him that rubber-based paint applied by city crews could lead to problems and it would be better to hire a contractor with experience in the process. Cost estimates ranged from $40,000 to more than $100,000, with the upper end being for paint guaranteed to last 25 years.
“There are constituent concerns,” Herder said, including those who maintain the spray is harmful to butterfly gardens. Others worry about the effects of the chemicals on humans, he said.
The mosquito control costs about $3,500 to $4,000 a season.
Herder said about 83 percent of American cities do some form of fogging to discourage mosquitoes.
“Talk to the people you represent and see what they have to say,” Herder encouraged council members.
Iola has fogged on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for many years without any reports of adverse effects.
— The Civil War Days Committee was given permission to use Camp Hunter Park for its event June 5-7. Re-enactment of the Confederate attack on Humboldt is the centerpiece, and occurs in odd-numbered years.
— Heard a report of the city’s annual audit from Meta Titel, of Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips. Titel said no problems surfaced, although she did recommend the city make efforts to build reserves, particularly for water and sewer funds. She noted reserves for water tower improvements at just under $52,000 wouldn’t go far with upgrades or construction, and that $1,276.94 in sewer reserves on Jan. 1 would be expended quickly if repairs of any consequence were required.
Private firm to manage Humboldt pool in 2015
