Council roundup: Major pool repairs during offseason imminent; budget to see mill levy increase; more
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow— The Wellington Aquatic Center’s sudden closure last week was caused by a threaded steel pipe approximately 5 inches in diameter bursting in half.
Wellington Director of Public Works Jeremy Jones told the council at Tuesday’s meeting that the repair would have taken two to three days to complete. With only eight days left in the pool season when the break took place, he and Wellington Rec Director Cody White decided to close it for the year.
Thus, the off-season will be interesting, as the city council must decide how much money to invest in the 25-year-old facility.
Jones estimates that fixing and replacing the filter system and much of the piping infrastructure could cost the city at least $1.2 million. Replacing the pumps and filtering system could cost between $45,000 and $65,000.
Jones said the city is awaiting a report from Brian Hill, engineer for Water’s Edge, on the various pool issues and the cost of correcting them. He said the goal is to resolve these issues by May 2025, when the pool reopens for the year.
“Brian is a pool guy who has taken care of pools across Wichita,” Jones said. “He is well aware of the schedule we have to work with. I’m not guaranteeing we can open by Memorial Day weekend next year. But that is the goal.”
Regarding the pipe break, on Wednesday, July 31, Park Supervisor Seth Henton entered the pumphouse at the pool and found water spraying out of the pipe near the recirculating pump. This piece is in line after the pump and before the filters.
“This hampered our ability to send water to the filtration system and ultimately back out to the pool,” Jones said. “The water loss was significant, and if left running, would have exceeded the water loss we have experienced over the past three years.”
Jones said the pipe issue is similar to other parts of the pool; there is no replacement available.
There was also a separate recirculating pump shaft that was failing but was babied through the year.
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In other council news:
•Wellington City Manager Jeff Porter said that the City is looking at a mill levy of 60.975 for the 2025 budget, up from 55.967 mills the previous year.
Porter said part of the mill increase is due to the lease purchase of a ladder truck and new debt associated with the Sellers Park facility. Those two projects alone add about $163,000 in new expenses.
There are also other circumstances. In April 2025, the hospital’s sales tax will end, resulting in a loss of nearly $250,000 to the city. The Police Department asks for increased student resource officers, and the fire/EMS recommends an additional position.
•The council approved re-roofing a section of the metal roof at the Public Works building, accepting the bid from Anytime Roofing for $48,000.
•The city of Wellington has entered into an agreement with Golden CPA for audit services from the 2024 to 2026 fiscal years.
•The council approved a “Memorandum of Understanding” agreement between the city and Wellington USD353 to construct a multi-use facility at Sellers Park. All costs for the design and construction of this facility will be paid for by bonds issued by the City of Wellington or the Wellington Public Building Commission. The school district will then make a lease payment for half of the facility to the city.
According to the terms, USD353 will have exclusivity of the facility during all athletic events.
•The council approved the sale of the property at 1222 N. Jefferson to Bruce Blackman and Jennifer Blackman through the approval of the Wellington Land Bank trustees.
•The council also approved the sale of 1201 Highland to Alfredo and Amanda Sampayo through the approval of the Wellington Land Bank trustees.
