Bolivar aquatic center: Over budget and yet to be finished

The opening has been delayed after it was initially set for September.

May 23, 2012|by Emily Wood, KY3 News

BOLIVAR, Mo. - With Memorial Day weekend coming up, you might be thinking about heading to the local pool.

But if you live in Bolivar, that won't be possible.

Costs for the new aquatic center are growing -- now topping $6 million -- and right now no one knows when it will open.

Instead of swimming in their brand new six-million-dollar pool, City of Bolivar taxpayers are swimming in aquatic center debt and a series of delays from the construction company in charge.

The new center, funded through a tax initiative, was first set to open in September. But that opening has been pushed back.

Lori Kretz is one of the locals left looking for other places to take her little ones this summer.

"It's a little bit disappointing that all that's going on. I feel like we were kind of excited to take the kids here and everything," Kretz said.

The construction delays are just part of the problem. City leaders are still in negotiations with YMCA leaders to determine if the YMCA will get to collect on any money received here at the aquatic center and how much. So far attorney fees for those negotiations and these other problems have already cost the city more than $4,000.

Brad Toft is the CEO of Ozarks Regional YMCA. He says partnering with the Y will bring lots of benefits to Bolivar.

"We are planning a full program offering for that pool, including swim team swimming lessons a full schedule of water exercise classes," Toft said.

Toft says Bolivar residents who are not Y members can expect to pay. But how the city and the Y will share revenue is yet to be determined.

"Iit'd be nice if they could get the problem solved for their own sake, cause there are a lot of people that want to use the pool," Toft said.

|

|

|