Cape pool repair tab could hit $20,000

While the bills for repairing Central Municipal Pool haven't arrived yet, the final tab could be between $15,000 and $20,000, Cape Girardeau's director of parks and recreation, Dan Muser, said Tuesday.

That covers a temporary pump and motor, a new motorized pump and installation.

On Sept. 17, the city's only public indoor pool was closed after its motorized pump, which had circulated 500,000 gallons of water almost continually since it was installed more than 20 years ago, stopped working. The pool closed that day and may not reopen until sometime in November, which has sent area swim teams looking for other places to practice.

Phil Hager, co-owner Mid-America Electric Motor Sales in Cape Girardeau, said his company repaired the old pump, attached a new motor and returned the unit to the city this week. He said the repaired pump is not expected to last long term but should tide the city over until the new replacement arrives in six to eight weeks. The temporary fix cost $3,300. He estimated the new pump and motor, being manufactured by the Pennsylvania-based Fybroc Division of Metal Pro Corp., will cost $11,000.

Cape Girardeau city manager Doug Leslie said the bills will be paid using contingency funds.

"I wouldn't classify it as an emergency, but there's some urgency to accommodate these teams," he said. "It indicates how important a facility it is and how we come to depend on these things."

Leslie characterized rumblings that the repair job was somehow timed to coincide with a parks and recreation tax proposal as "about as absurd as you can get."

Muser said parks workers are repairing valves to get the temporary motor installed.

"One way or the other it'll be operational sooner than we planned," he said, but declined to specify a pool reopening date.

On Monday, Notre Dame Regional High School's boys swim team had its first-ever outdoor October practice at Capaha Park pool. The water temperature was 77 degrees, said coach Lenny Kuper. They will continue swimming at Capaha's pool, weather permitting, until the water temperature reaches 72 degrees, he said.

Kuper said the swimmers also practice at Saint Francis Medical Center's Fitness Plus after hours, including 9 to 11 p.m. Fridays, "so we don't bother regular patrons."

Notre Dame's meet against Jackson High School has been set for 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at the municipal pool in Perryville, Mo.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127