McComb pool isn't so cool

The village of McComb is giving refunds for pool memberships to those who ask. The pool was shut down after two days. A bottom coating that cracked and cut feet was blamed.

MCCOMB, Ohio - For the second summer in a row, McComb residents looking to cool off in the local swimming pool will find it closed for repairs. Unlike last year, though, it may not reopen.

Village council agreed Monday not to sink any more money into the 1967 pool but instead look toward building a new pool. McComb Administrator Kevin Siferd said yesterday the village was refunding pool memberships to anyone who asked.

Though the pool may reopen after more repairs are made, he wasn't holding out hope. "With the pool this year, we're in limbo," Mr. Siferd said.

Last year, council hired a contractor to remove the pool's old vinyl liner and apply a coating that the contractor reportedly guaranteed for three years. The work was completed early in August, giving residents a short but enjoyable swimming season.

Mr. Siferd said this year the pool opened on schedule on Memorial Day weekend but, after just two days, it had to be closed because the new coating was cracking and cutting swimmers' feet.

The pool was drained, repaired, and filled again. This time, it was open only about a week when the same problem occurred, Mr. Siferd said.

"It's just to the point that we're frustrated here," he said. The contractor has "got a three-year warranty on it that we're having trouble honoring," he said. "We've got a bunch of cracks in the bottom in the material he put on in the shallow end. If we patch this, it's just going to come up in another spot."

Council has asked its village solicitor to look into possible legal action against the contractor, who has not returned to town to fix the problem.

Council President Robin Rader said he was reluctant to spend money on repairing the old pool last summer and now he knows why. The village spent $28,000 and still doesn't have a pool kids can use.

"We wanted to put a Band-Aid on it," Mr. Rader said. "The Band-Aid fell off, I guess."

He said council is committed to building a new pool.