Steelville City Pool will open late for the summer season this year for needed repairs. The Board of Aldermen voted unanimously on March 2 to move forward with replacing the pool’s plaster floor with a more durable synthetic material.

The plaster flooring was put in when the pool was first built 30 years ago, and has never been resurfaced. According to Public Works Director Jason Evans, plaster pools typically last for 10 to 15 years before they require resurfacing.

City crews patched and repainted the pool around eight years ago to help buy it some more time. But large chunks of plaster still tend to come loose over the course of each summer season, and city crews do yearly repairs once it closes.

When the pool was drained about a month ago to be assessed ahead of summer, Evans said he noticed much larger, deeper chunks of plaster coming loose and sand in the pool from the plaster breaking down under the surface.

“I just in good conscience couldn’t recommend opening the pool in the condition that it is,” Evans said.

The city had to weigh spending $15,000 to $20,000 on more patchwork and repainting in order to open on time for the season, or investing in the full resurfacing now and opening late while repairs take place. The aldermen felt that for the safety of swimmers and the longevity of the pool, resurfacing now would be worth it.

“I would hate to see it open and then a kid get hurt,” Alderwoman Ward 2 Lula Patterson said.

Evans said the pool will be resurfaced with a synthetic material, which costs more than plaster but comes with a 25-year warranty rather than the seven years plaster offers. The synthetic material is stronger and will require less yearly maintenance from the city once it is installed.

There are no official bids in yet, but Evans said repairs could start by the end of next month, with the pool potentially opening in time for the Fourth of July. Lifeguard training, which is usually held at the pool in May, will need to take place elsewhere.

Evans heard cost estimates of around $200,000 for the resurfacing, which will come out of the city’s parks fund. As of right now, the fund holds $370,000 and is replenished monthly by sales tax revenue.

City crews will use the extra time this summer to redo plumbing, resurface the splash pad to be less slick and do other building repairs while the pool is closed.

“It’s unfortunate for the month that it’s going to be down for the pool, but it’s actually creating an opportunity to get those other things taken care of while it’s not open,” Evans said.