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SALEM -- During a Park Commission meeting Wednesday foreman Jim Grimm announced that leaks in the Centennial Park pool are repaired.
The leaks, which were first discovered in August, were determined to have been caused by an issue with one or more of the 50 seams within the pool's pressure system in October, with quotes for the repairs approved in February.
Grimm said that work had begun opening the seams on March 11, and that on March 21, the seams had been re-sealed, and the pressure system tested with no further leaks. Grimm also said all the surface leaks combined were equivalent to a hole just over an inch in size.
"There was an equivalent of about an inch and a quarter to an inch and a half total of all the leaks we saw, so with twenty pounds of water behind that, you're going to lose a lot of water," said Grimm.
Grimm also said that the concrete repairs for the pool were set to be completed early in April and could begin "as soon as next week."
Other business included discussion of upgrades to the department's tools. Parks Director Jacob Logan said the department had purchased upgrades for the equipment most used by the department. These include a new drill driver combo, grinder, and Sawzall -- all of which were battery powered --and came with an additional battery free of charge.
"We got some of the tools we use on a day-to-day basis, and boy have we needed them over the past two weeks. It has very much been a necessary and good purchase," said Logan.
However, the department still needs additional equipment including a half-inch impact, a circular saw, die grinder, and hedge trimmer, which would also come with two more batteries for the new equipment. Logan said that the total cost of the new equipment would be approximately $1,300, and that after speaking with the Salem Community Foundation he was recommended to apply for grant funding for the equipment as part of that organization's upcoming round of grant funding.
Logan ultimately requested authorization to apply for the grant funding which the commissioners voted unanimously to approve.
During his report Logan said that while the water level at the city lake had "gone up a lot," rising three feet since January, it was still three feet too low to launch a boat or for shore fishing.
"We really want to open the lake, but right now shore fishing would be impossible, and it would be really, really difficult to launch a boat," said Logan.
Logan said that while it did not currently appear feasible to open the lake in April, the department would continue to review the water level on a week-by-week basis, with the possibility of opening the lake in May and remaining open later into the year to compensate for the delay.
Logan also gave a brief update on the Parks Foreman position ahead of Grimm's impending retirement at the end of April. Logan said that the information for the position had been forwarded for posting on the city's website, and that the position had been posted on the department's Facebook page and in this newspaper.
While not present at the meeting, Recreation Supervisor Kelli Pastore's report was delivered on her behalf by Logan. Logan said that Pastore had successfully obtained sponsors for all this year's softball teams to cover that cost of belts, pants, and socks, and that the department covers jerseys as part of the registration fee, so all the teams would be "fully outfitted."
According to Logan the department had been approached with a request to host a Spanish soccer league. Logan explained that previously the league had been traveling to Dover to utilize an abbreviated field, and that the department had found a space at Waterworth Memorial Park that the league, which includes eleven teams, could begin using as an abbreviated field on Sundays. Logan said that the department would line the field with the cost being split with the league, and that the league would be supplying all its own equipment otherwise.
"They were just ecstatic not to have to drive to Dover anymore," said Logan.
The parks commission will meet next at 5 p.m. April 24.