Teams use aquatic center as pool's problems persist

Continuing problems with Cape Girardeau's city pool have led more teams to use the new aquatic center at Southeast Missouri State University.

On Saturday, Notre Dame Regional High School and Central High School swimming teams practiced at Southeast's facility, as the city worked to increase water temperatures at Cape Central Municipal Pool, often called the "Bubble."

"The swim teams are telling us it's too cold. Seventy-three or 74 degrees is very chilly," said Troy Vaughn, the director of recreation services for the university.

Swim teams have been scrambling to find places to practice since September, when a motor and pump failure caused the city pool to be closed for two months. Upon reopening, chlorine levels and water temperatures continued to be issues.

While two teams, the Southeast Aquatic League and Jackson High School, have signed new contracts with Southeast, Vaughn said Notre Dame's and Central's use of the aquatic center is not permanent.

"We're loving being over here, but it is very temporary. We're hoping the water heater will be restored, and we can be back on [Jan.] 14th," said Central coach Dayna Powell.

Vaughn walks a particularly fine line. He's in charge of the new aquatic center, but is also a member of the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, which oversees the municipal pool.

"We're seeing benefits with the city having issues. It pains me because the city has a great facility when it's working well," he said. "I'm right in the middle and have alliances to both," he said.

As a member of the advisory board, Vaughn is involved in the promotion of an April tax referendum that would "benefit a place like the Bubble. But obviously my employer is the university," he said.

Vaughn said the aquatic center is not in direct competition with the city pool because the university's first priority is serving students, and the facility is mainly intended for leisure.

He said he's had to turn away teams because it would jeopardize the center's open swim time.

Since opening Dec. 20, about 40 people have signed up for an aquatics-only membership, and "hundreds of students who live locally" have used the aquatics center, Vaughn said.

Once classes resume Jan. 14, Vaughn expects to see a surge of students using the pool. Jan. 14 is also when registration for swimming classes begin.

Vaughn said he's thankful he's had a chance to work out kinks associated with the new facility before the onslaught of students.

Like the municipal pool, the $8.5 million aquatic center has not been immune to problems either.

A valve in the hot tub had to be replaced, and staff has been addressing issues with the surge tank, locker room temperatures, window condensation and the automatic pool filler.

Chad Sierman, assistant director of aquatics for Southeast, had to rig a new system for retrieving the bar used for a zip line into the leisure pool.

Determining the number of lifeguards needed at certain times has also been a challenge. Sierman said the center currently has about 40 lifeguards.

"We're still babies. We haven't been battle tested yet," Vaughn said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123