Hartley, Iowa — The citizens of Hartley have approved a bond referendum toward a new swimming pool in that community.
According to the unofficial results from the O’Brien County Auditor’s Office, the measure passed 228 to 44. That’s 83.82 percent voting yes. The measure needed at least 60 percent to pass.
Hartley City Administrator Erica Haack tells us they will start building the pool this summer.
(as said) “The plan will be we’ll continue fundraising throughout the summer. But here even next week the city will contract with engineers and surveyors to get some of that work going. We’ll have the bidding process the summer and then hope to break ground by July and construction will take place and then hope to have the new pool ready to go by early to mid next summer — 2022.”
She tells us about the financing.
(as said) “The bond issue was for 1.7 million dollars. The pool is estimated to cost about three million dollars. So the bond issue will take up that portion and the rest will come from fundraising, from grants, and from the city.”
Haack tells us the new pool will go in the same location as the old pool, which will necessitate the pool not opening this summer. She says it will be a completely new facility, including a new bathhouse.
According to Haack, the new pool will have something for everyone.
(as said) “We’ll have a zero-depth entry. Of course it will be ADA accessible. At the shallow end, we’ll have spray features, a toddler slide, in-pool shading and seating, and there will be a family slide as well. They’ll be a couple of basketball hoops, volleyball net, four lap lanes, and a diving board.”
She tells us there will be more fundraisers this summer for the pool. A groundbreaking is planned, but has yet to be scheduled, according to Haack.
