Four Proposals Offered for New Nazareth Pool

Written by Jack Tobias

The Nazareth committee guiding the development and installation of a new municipal pool has proposals from four companies that want to design and build it.

And one of those companies is the Lancaster firm that moderated the borough’s first public meeting on the pool issue in May, when Nazareth had to face the fact it would not have a municipal pool for probably two summers.

Also, the borough is looking to spend no more than $2.5 million for the entire project. In previous discussions, officials said a new pool in boro-park could cost more than $5 million.

Those developments were reviewed Thursday night by Councilman Chris Audenried, the pool committee chairman, speaking after borough council’s monthly workshop. He mentioned the pool project during the meeting but provided more details afterward.

Audenried said the eight-member committee wants to make its final selection of the pool’s designer/builder in time for a council vote on Sept. 3.

The committee heard from nine companies that expressed interest in overseeing the project. Of those, four submitted proposals by Monday’s (July 29) deadline, Audenried said. He said the committee met Wednesday (July 31) to review the proposals.

The panel plans to narrow the list to two firms, then interview both before selecting one as the go-to company, he said.

One of the firms submitting a proposal, Audenried confirmed, is Wallover Aquatics of Lancaster. Ted and Susan Wallover moderated the borough’s first public session on a new pool in May. That was even before the committee was formed.

Audenried declined to identify the other three firms.

He emphasized there continues to be two driving forces behind the pool plans:

--The committee wants to spend between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.

--The committee asked the companies submitting proposals to assume that construction would be done by the end of next summer.

But Audenried emphasized the borough still will be without a pool next summer and still intends to open a new facility in summer 2015.

The councilman also praised the committee, which he said “has done a fantastic job,” adding, “they’ve really done their homework.”

Audenried also said, “We want to get the right pool for the community.”

At a special meeting July 22, committee members said they had visited area pools to get an idea of what would be best for Nazareth. The pools included those in Palmer Township, Easton, Quakertown, Hanover Township, Boyertown, Saucon Valley, Wilson and Bangor.

Committee member Amy Lutte – Nazareth High School’s swimming and diving coach – pointed out at the July 22 meeting that the Palmer facility features a competition pool that allows two teams to compete in a 50-meter swim and a 25-yard swim.

Boro-park’s 74-year-old pool was shuttered this summer due to structural and safety issues.

In addition to what kind of new pool Nazareth should have, the committee must decide whether the old bathhouse should be renovated or replaced.