South Central Reporter

City of Centralia Fairview Park Pool Committee met March 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

I. CALL TO ORDER – Chairman Smith: Meeting was called to order at 5:02PM. 

II. ROLL CALL 

__X__ Eric Collins                 ____ Jacy Keef 

__X__ Amanda Marshall       __X__ Mickey Martin 

_____ Stephanie Perez        __X__ Jennifer Price 

__X__ Robert “Spanky” Smith  

 Ex-Officio Members 

__ X__ Advisory Staff -Derek Sherman, Economic Development Director 

III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – None

IV. MINUTES

1. February 14th, 2023: A motion to approve the minutes as present 1st Price 2nd Collins. All present voted in favor of approving the minutes with none opposing.

V. ONGOING BUSINESS

VI. NEW BUSINESS

1. Recommendation for City Council: Demolition of Fairview Park Pool

i. Sherman mentioned that the Committee has had discussions at the previous two pool committee meetings about the demolish of the existing Fairview Park Pool due to the need for the ground to settle and the high costs to rehabilitate the facility to bring it back into compliance. Price said that it seems like a good idea to recommend demolition regardless of the Burbach Study’s findings & the city’s ability to replace it. Martin agreed that no matter what the old pool complex will need to be taken out, and to leave the pool in its current form is an eye sore & a safety hazard. Marshall and Smith concurred with Price and Martin stating that it is easy for someone to jump the fence and potentially fall into the dive tank. Collins said that by making the decision to move forward with the demolition that would allow Burbach to not spend time on determining whether to demolish or not. Also, Collins said we have city staff that can accomplish the demolition which would be a savings to the taxpayers and overall project.

ii. Chairman Smith said he would entertain a motion to recommend to the Centralia City Council to move forward with the demolition of the existing Fairview Park Pool regardless of the Burbach Study’s findings due to health & safety issues and the time needed to allow for the ground to settle. 1st Marshall and 2nd Price to recommend to the Centralia City Council to move forward with the demolition of the Fairview Park Pool. All present (Collins, Martin, Smith, Marshall, and Price) voted in favor with none opposing.

2. Burbach – Phase I Step II: Update

i. Sherman stated the Burbach Aquatics has already started working on the Step II feasibility study. Burbach requested a list of pools within a 30 – 50 mile radius of Centralia, but that the focus should only be on 30 minutes away. Sherman informed Burbach that many citizens travel to the Metro East (O’Fallon, Fairview Heights, & Collinsville) and Flora to utilize their aquatic facilities even though that is farther than 30 minutes away, and that those locations must be included in the study. Sherman asked if we should go farther North or South than 30 miles? The Committee said probably the farthest South would be Du Quoin/Marion/Carbondale, but that citizens don’t go North for aquatics. Burbach agreed to add those aquatic facilities to the list. Additionally, Burbach asked who installed and owned the Downtown Splash Pad, which Sherman correct them by stating it is not a formal splash pad & is the Carillon Musical Fountain. Sherman informed Burbach that ownership is with the Centralia Foundation and that he was not sure who installed it. However, there have been ongoing maintenance issues since it opened due to citizens utilizing it as a splash pad despite it not being designed for that utilization. Finally, Burbach had indicated that they are intending to attend the upcoming April Fairview Park Pool Committee meeting to provide an update on Step II. The Committee confirmed that including Flora & the Metro East is necessary for an accurate study and that the information provided about the Carillon Musical Fountain was accurate to their knowledge.

VII. DISCUSSION

1. Next Meeting Agenda Items

i. Sherman asked the Committee for upcoming agenda items. The Committee said they would like to have an update from Burbach at the next meeting, and that the update would help determine future meetings agenda items.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:25PM 1st Collins 2nd Martin. All present voted in favor of adjourning the meeting with none opposing.

https://cityofcentralia.org/vertical/sites/%7BFC680FE7-BE5C-4903-A103-67AF5EF51655%7D/uploads/3_-_March_14_2023_Minutes.pdf