Cost For Town Pool Resurfacing Comes In At Double Estimates

The township parks and recreation department still is planning a major project to resurface the main pool at Pleasant Valley Park before winter sets in, but the expected cost for the job has doubled to about $200,000.

The lowest bid received on Sept. 2 for the project came in at just over $190,000, Jennifer Gander, director of the department, told the Township Committee at its meeting Tuesday night.

Township officials, including Township Administrator Bruce McArthur, said funding for the project is allocated from a separate account for municipal pool operations. The money is not taken from general taxpayers' funds, McArthur said.

Last month, members of the township's pool commission said $80,000 already had been set aside for the job, which had an estimated price tag of no more than $100,000.

Gander said on Tuesday that the pool commission has collected another $200,000 in a surplus fund generated by past pool revenues. The additional $120,000 needed to replaster the pool will be taken from that account, she said.

Last year, contractors capable of performing the work had given estimates of about $100,000 for the project while officials were working out a budget, Gander said.

Gander said costs apparently had risen since estimates received, and neighboring municipalities also are receiving bids that are higher than anticipated.

The Township Committee is scheduled to award a contract to the lowest bidder for the project at its meeting scheduled for Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

"There's an extensive amount of work that needs to be done on the main tank," Gander told the Township Committee. However, she said there still is time for the resurfacing to be completed before the pool opens for the 2011 season.

McArthur said the pool was resurfaced once  before during the last 29 years since it was built.

Township Committeeman John Malay said he was disappointed that estimates were so far off. He suggested that future estimates might be set on the high side to avoid such a large discrepancy.

Gander said the pool commission also has one more year to pay off a debt for a water play area installed in the municipal complex. She said fees for the pool are examined every year when finances are reviewed.