1 - Community Swimming Pool
PROJECT UPDATES:
March 25, 2024 - The slides have arrived and will be installed as weather permits.
December 12, 2023 - The state has issued the required permit for the slides for the pool. The slides have been ordered and water service to the slides has been partially installed.
October 10, 2023 - The project has been completed with the exception of the installation of the slides. The slides have been ordered and once installed, the project will be finalized.
August 8, 2023 - There are still several items that need to be finalized. Some items will be completed once the pool closes on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. We are hopeful to close out this project in September or October.
July 11, 2023 - The pool opened on Friday, June 23, 2023. Although the pool has passed inspection and has opened its doors for operation, there are still several items that require finalization. City staff has asked for patience during this time of transition.
June 13, 2023 - The pool project is progressing toward completion. There a several things that need to be completed in time for the state inspection on June 22, 2023.
May 9, 2023 - work continues to progress and Sande Construction is still hoping to open the pool by the end of the first week in June, 2023. Several amenities have been added to the pool due to the proceeds from the CAT Grant. Plans are underway for a ribbon cutting ceremony when the pool is ready to open.
April 11, 2023 - Construction is progressing well and we are hopeful that the pool will be ready to open in early June.
March 8, 2023 - Sande Construction has provided an updated schedule and they are currently running 2-3 weeks behind schedule. At this time, the projected opening of the pool is slated for the 2nd week of June.
January 10, 2023: Work on the buildings at the pool site are expected to start soon. The City of Dallas Center will be granting a perpetual and permanent easement to MidAmerican Energy Company for the construction of underground electric service and a pad-mounted transformer for providing electrical service to the new Dallas Center Outdoor Swimming Pool.
December 13, 2022: Sande Construction will continue to work through the winter as weather allows.
November 8, 2022: Drone pictures are now available showing the pool's progress. Click here to view drone photos.
September 13, 2022: Demolition has been completed and work is progressing on the new pool. Much of the pool shell is planned to be poured this fall and should start to take shape by Thanksgiving.
August 14, 2022: Mayor Beyer, Dallas Center Councilmembers Ryan Kluss, Ryan Coon, Angie Beaudet, Amy Strutt and Daniel Willrich along with past pool personnel and Parks and Rec members gathered for the Dallas Center Community Swimming Pool Groundbreaking Ceremony at the swimming pool located at 1108 Vine Street.
August 9, 2022: Pre-construction conference is August 10th and construction starts the week of August 15th. Sande Construction will be removing the swimming pool deck.
July 19, 2022: City Engineer Veenstra summarized documentation for consideration of the Sande Construction bid for the new swimming pool. He reviewed the details of the bid and potential cost reductions. Council received feedback from the Friends of the Dallas Center Pool members. Sande Construction offered some comparison to pool construction costs they have experienced in recent years. Travis Squires with Piper Sandler talked about the reality of increased costs and offered examples of clients who had postponed bidding and did not have favorable outcomes. City Attorney Brown reviewed the available funding options for this project. The Council approved Resolution 2022-53 – making award of construction contract in the event the change order information be modified. Resolution 2022-54 – approving construction contract and bond in the event the (based on potential modifications) was approved by the Council.
Veenstra & Kimm, Inc. has been contracted for General Construction Administrative Services and Inspection Services. Piper Sandler will start the financing process in accordance with Financing Plan - Not to Exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation Local Option Sales and Services Tax Capital Loan Notes (Swimming Pool Project).
July 12, 2022: There was one bid received that included the base bid and 10 alternates with alternates 9 & 10 being the parking lot. Sande Construction submitted a base bid in the amount of $5,317,304 but the City needs to add the parking lot for a bid of $5,482,670. The total bid with all alternates was $6,184,151. Veenstra stated Waters Edge estimate was $4,232,964 including all alternates making the bid about 46% above the engineer’s estimate. He also stated the construction market is in turmoil and this appears to not have been factored into the Waters Edge estimate. The next step is to look at what can be done to bring the cost down to a budget the City can afford. The Council approved Resolution 2022-52 – adopting plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs. The Council also agreed to defer consideration of bids to the special council meeting on July 19th at 6:00 pm.
June 14, 2022: Bids for this project are due on July 7, 2022. Substantial completion is projected for May 2023. The Council approved Resolution 2022-47 – ordering construction of the Project, and fixing a date for hearing.
January 11, 2022: The engineers have a tentative engineering timeline of December-April, with the project going out for bid in mid to late May with bids due back in early June and acted on in June 2022.
November 9, 2021: the City Attorney reported the bond issue for a new pool passed with an 82.56% approval! The Council then approved Resolution 2021-62 entering into an agreement with Waters Edge Aquatic Design, PLC for design and engineering services, bidding, construction administration and post construction services for the new pool.
August 10, 2021, during the Public Hearing to issue a Not to Exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation Local Option Sales and Services Tax Capital Loan Note, the City Council was informed a petition had been filed with the Clerk requesting the issue be submitted to qualified voters of Dallas Center.
This means that the voters of Dallas Center will be able to vote on the City issuing the Not to Exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation Local Option Sales and Services Tax Capital Loan Note on November 2, 2021, during the Regular City Election.
Voters are encouraged to listen to the recording of the June 23, 2021, Special Council Meeting in which Financial Advisor Travis Squires gave an overview of a financial analysis of the City’s options for funding a new pool. He also discussed in detail the City’s debt limit and stated the City could afford a LOSST bond issue for the pool. To listen to the meeting click here. To view the financial presentation presented at the meeting click here.
Voters are also encouraged to read the Swimming Pool Planning and Advisory Committee’s report of findings found here. On page 4 of the report, you will find what the city had on hand for the new pool at the time of the meeting (this amount has increased since). Also, please note, that the projected new pool cost of $3,834,200 contains a 10% contingency which may or may not be needed (as was the case with the library addition and remodel).
For questions or concerns please reach out to any of your elected officials or call City Hall at 515-992-3725.
On February 9, 2021, the City Council approved establishing a Swimming Pool Planning and Advisory Committee tasked with determining the condition of the current pool, researching the best options for continuing to have a pool and providing a recommendation to Council based on their findings. On July 23, 2021, the committee presented their findings and recommended building a new pool. The Council agreed and approved proceeding with the Committee’s plan. To view the report and the project drawings presented to the Council click here.
At the July 13, 2021, City Council meeting, the Council approved Resolution 2021-39 proposing to authorize a not to exceed $2,900,000 General Obligation Local Option Sales and Services Tax Capital Loan. This means that the loan would be guaranteed and paid for from Local Option Sales and Service Tax. The total estimated cost of the new pool is $3,834,200.
The difference between the estimated cost of a new pool and the not to exceed amount of the Capital Loan will be funded by the following: Designated Burnett Trust funds, LOSST funds previously set aside in anticipation of the project, funds raised by the Friends of the Pool and private pool donation(s).