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Alameda Pool upgrade OK'd for $1.1 million

The Butler County commissioners on Wednesday awarded a nearly $1.1 million contract to Specialty Pool Contractors of Pittsburgh to renovate the Alameda Pool in Alameda Park.
Splash pad, new slides planned

Renovations to Alameda Pool will cost more than $1 million.

The Butler County commissioners on Wednesday awarded a nearly $1.1 million contract to Specialty Pool Contractors of Pittsburgh to do the work.

Along with installing a new concrete deck at the pool in Alameda Park off Route 356 in Butler Township, the contractor will add new slides, a splash pad, handicap-accessible stair entry and a climbing wall.

The county did not select one of nine optional items: placing a winterizing cover over the pool.

Factoring in the eight options selected, Specialty Pool was the lowest of four bidders.

The next lowest bid counting the same options was more than $35,000 higher.

Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton voted for the contract while Commissioner Jim Eckstein dissented.

Eckstein said the project scope should have been smaller to cut costs.

“I don't think we need all those options,” he said.

Pinkerton disagreed.

“I believe if we're going to do it, we should do it in the right manner,” he said.

The new slides, splash pad and climbing wall were among those alternates.

Pinkerton said the pool at ARMCO Park in Slippery Rock Township drew more people after adding a splash pad — which is meant for younger children's use.

“Their attendance doubled,” he said.

Eckstein wasn't swayed, saying it is highly unlikely Alameda's attendance would double as a result of the renovations.

He maintains less new concrete is needed for a new deck.

Gary Pinkerton, director of county park and recreation, disagrees there is any excess.

The project is funded by a $400,000 state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant, $300,000 from timbering revenue and the remaining amount from natural gas drilling impact fee money.

Eckstein unsuccessfully argued the cost exceeded the original $900,000 estimate, which he said was considered too high by many county residents.

He said if the pool renovations were less costly, the drilling impact fee money could be used for more projects.

The project estimate rose to $1.1 million earlier this year.

Gary Pinkerton said in an interview the initial estimate was adjusted after the need for more work was discovered.

Alameda Pool was opened in 1972. The only previous renovation was in 1998.

Eckstein said he didn't attend an internal meeting on Monday concerning the pool renovation bids because he was protesting the scope of work.

“I didn't participate on purpose,” he said.

Eckstein stressed a “vibrant discussion” about the options should have occurred Wednesday.

Pinkerton said the project has been discussed for more than six years, so sufficient planning went into the design.

McCarrier said no deliberation occurred at the internal meeting Monday. Government officials are not permitted to discuss the scope of a project behind closed doors, just learn information.

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