BY TERI FINNEMAN
Eudora’s swimming pool is getting a makeover to get itself in shape for swimsuit season.
During Monday’s City Commission meeting, commissioners unanimously agreed to budget money to resurface and repaint the pool.
The swimming pool was last professionally painted in 2016. Commissioner Ruth Hughs asked how the pool could be in such bad shape after three summers.
Parks & Recreation Director Sally Pennington said the pool has never been completely resurfaced like it should have been, and this is causing various problems.
“There’s a lot of paint in our filter systems, which is not good,” she said.
Public Works Director Branden Boyd said there are areas that need to be caulked, painted and sealed. He echoed how problematic it has been to pull flaking and peeling paint out of filters.
“It’s bad for the whole system,” he said.
Pennington said the overall appearance of the pool is also affected.
“It just looks dirty. Even if we vacuumed every hour, it looks dirty, and it’s a perception thing to me,” she said.
Commissioners approved spending up to $53,940 to fix the pool, with the funding coming from the proceeds of the ¾-cent sales tax. A report noted the improvements are expected to last five to seven years.
Pennington said she will immediately move forward with the renovation plans so the pool is ready to open over Memorial Day weekend as scheduled.
During staff reports, Boyd praised the work of snow removal crews who worked over the weekend, noting they were short-staffed.
Assistant City Manager Leslie Herring told commissioners that the city has started work on its comprehensive plan update process and has arranged a variety of methods to get feedback from people who live and work in Eudora.
The plan hasn’t been updated in 15 years, and its goal is to guide the city’s future in land use, transportation, housing, recreation and economic development.
The public is invited to a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at City Hall to give input on how the city can grow and improve. The city also would like residents and businesses to fill out a 5- to 10-minute survey at www.cityofeudoraks.gov/381/Eudora-Comprehensive-Plan. The online survey will close Feb. 10.
Commissioners also heard an update and received a report from the Codes Enforcement Office.
During the last few months of 2019, the office focused on junked vehicles parked on private property, vehicles parked off approved surfaces and bulk trash being placed at street curb weeks in advance.
Overall, the office found 804 violations throughout 2019, including 181 related to sign regulations, 170 for health and welfare, 111 related to off-street parking, 80 for grass/weeds, 36 for junked motor vehicles and 17 for camper/RV parking,
The office will spend the initial months of this year focused on the upkeep of yards in the city and ensuring vehicles on private property have proper registration.
In other business, the commission:
· Tabled a request from Sonic to install an electronic message board to allow for further consideration about measurements and height before setting a precedent for future businesses.
· Discussed during a work session how the city could create a donation policy for Eudora parks. Commissioners were presented with examples of how other communities manage tree, bench and memorial brick programs. No immediate action was taken.
· Heard a report from Pennington that an estimated 300 people took part in the holiday hayrides.
· Administered the oath of office to incoming commissioner Roberta Lehmann and returning commissioners Tim Bruce and Hughs.
· Re-elected Tim Reazin as mayor and Hughs as vice mayor.
· Recognized Eric Strimple for achieving the Certified Municipal Clerk designation.
· Thanked Troy Squire for his service on the City Commission. Hughs called him an “exemplary” commissioner. Squire said he’s proud of the work done by the city and plans to run again for the commission in the future.
Reach Teri Finneman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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