Written By David Gomez
GLENCOE - A nearly $100,000 repair bill and a proposed $750,000 rehabilitation project brought Glencoe Pool back before Southwest Middlesex council on November 4, with two decisions addressing the facility’s immediate costs and longer-term improvements.
The first concerned an electrical surge in June that damaged the pool’s variable frequency drive, a pump and a computer board in the filtration system, delaying the summer opening. Acapulco Pools spent approximately two weeks completing repairs, with replacement parts arriving from the United States.
CAO Amanda Gubbels, presenting on behalf of Community Services and Facilities Manager Kevin Miller, explained that the municipality avoided most of the expense after Acapulco Pools secured warranty coverage, despite the warranties having expired two weeks before the incident.
“We could very easily be looking at an emergency repair bill of $100,000,” Gubbels told council.
The remaining $29,648.15 in labour costs will be covered through savings from the Wardsville Fire Hall Diesel Exhaust Fan project, originally budgeted at $50,000. That project is now expected to cost less than $10,000.
Deputy Mayor Mike Sholdice questioned whether insurance could cover the pool damage. Gubbels confirmed the municipality had investigated but the incident was not eligible for coverage. She added that electrical protection and operating procedures had since been improved. Council unanimously approved paying the outstanding bill.
Attention then turned to a proposed rehabilitation of the Glencoe Pool House, with two options prepared for a provincial Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund application.
Both include accessibility improvements, upgraded change rooms, new washroom fixtures, roofing, a redesigned front counter and a separate chemical storage room.
The first option was estimated at $676,806.98, while the second, costing $750,485.48, would also provide a dedicated staff office and washroom.
Councillor Joel Haggith supported the more extensive proposal. “I like option two because then it’s completely done. Not come back two years later and say, ‘Well, we need more room or whatever,’” he said.
Councillor Ed Myers questioned the estimated costs and whether competitive bidding could reduce them. Gubbels explained that the figures came from preliminary engineering work and that construction would be subject to a future tender process.
The provincial program could cover 50% of eligible project costs. Gubbels said the municipality would not need to allocate funding immediately, with any municipal contribution considered during the 2028 budget process if the application succeeds.
Council approved pursuing Option 2 for the grant application, due December 22. The decision establishes the proposed project scope but does not authorize construction or commit the municipality to the full expenditure.
