Wentzville's Splash Station May Open for Only One Day in 2013

Wentzville's new city administrator Mike McDowell sat in on his first meeting of the board of aldermen. The work session last Wednesday night had only two topics on the agenda, but they were big ones: the future of the city's special events and how to proceed with the city's massive parks construction project.

Interim Public Works Director Doug Lee led the parks discussion with an update. He said that the Splash Station Aquatic Center had incurred no additional costs for rock excavation since his previous update, but work had been delayed because of weather.

He said that risks had been identified that could add more cost overruns and that having that numbers fall within the amount left for contingency could be a "tight margin."

Work is still progressing nevertheless, Lee said. They were scheduling concrete pours and completing piping work for the pool structures.

But the board faced another issue: The projected completion date, Sept. 9, 2013, falls after the facility will normally have closed for the 2013 season.

Parks Board member Kari Johnson told that board that they should plan to open the new facility to the public despite the late opening.

"We need to give the public a viewing," Johnson said. "It’s part of marketing, showing the residents what we’ve got."

Parks Director Mary Jo Dessieux agreed with Johnson. "The clock starts ticking anyway. He (the builder) won’t wait to put water in the pool until next year." She mentioned that a preview event would also be a good chance to sell early-bird memberships for the 2014 season.

Alderman Rick Stokes asked Dessieux about the operations costs for a possible one-day grand opening, and Dessieux estimated roughly $20,000.

"I’m torn," Alderman Forrest Gossett said after hearing that number. "I like the idea." He asked if the cost would be significantly less if the grand opening event was just a chance to see and not use the new facilities.

Dessieux said the cost could be about the same.

"We might as well let them swim, then," Gossett said.

READ MORE:

• $6 Million Aquatic Center Bid Awarded to Local Contractor Demien Construction
• Board Considers Options After Splash Station Overruns Top $190K

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