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Waterpark still on schedule |
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
Rec Director confident construction, staffing will meet deadline
 These plans, provided by Brandstetter Carroll, Inc., show the proposed layout of the Wapak-oneta Waterpark. The waterpark is slated to open July 4 weekend. (File photo)
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
Work at the Wapakoneta Waterpark construction site and tasks associated with assembling staff is progressing on schedule, a city administrator says.
“The contractor is in constant communication with us and everything is on schedule,”Wapakoneta Recreation Director Jack Hayzlett said after Monday’s Wapakoneta City Recreation Board meeting. “It looks great, and if you drive by you can start to see some form to it — the walls of the baby pool are up, all the footings and foundations are done and they poured the floors of both pools.
“It is looking great,” he said, “and everything is on schedule for filling the pools with water the week
of June 2.”
Hayzlett, along with Safety-Service Director Rex Katterheinrich and Mayor Rodney Metz, are scheduled to have a construction meeting today with representatives of Astro Pools Inc. to review first-hand progress at the site.
Hayzlett said he believes costs are still within the $1.3 million budgeted for construction.
The aquatic facility includes a zero-degree entry play area with a 20-foot looped slide, as well as an 8-lane, 25-meter competition pool with two diving boards.
During the meeting, Katterheinrich updated board members on a decision made by the mayor and himself regarding redoing steps leading to the basement. Metz and Katterheinrich decided to have Astro Pools pour the steps, which were flaking, and a wall, which was leaking water, at a cost of $41,000.
“The steps were a necessity that we felt were very important and that was in the budget, but we were not spent in excess of the budget for the waterpark,” Hayzlett said. “The budget seems to be in great shape — they haven’t told us that we are not on target to hit the budget or the construction schedule.”
As general manager and recreation director, Hayzlett said he plans to interview a couple more candidates for assistant managers. He intends to call a special board meeting in the next two weeks so board members can meet with the candidates prior to making their hiring official.
Hayzlett then intends to advertise and hire lifeguards for the facility within the next 10 days.
The recreation director said he still feels comfortable with the cost projections to operate the pool, but he admitted “the first year is going to be difficult” because there are so many variables.
“I think why the budget is important — we need to emphasize the additional recreational opportunities that the waterpark provides,” Hayzlett told the Wapakoneta Daily News. “When we add soccer fields, we spend more money; and when we add baseball fields to Veterans Memorial Park, we spend more money — so when we add a swimming-waterpark facility to the city park system, we are going to spend more money.” |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 April 2008 )
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