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photo by Hannah Reel
The Ferriday pool sits empty while work is being done to restore it.
Ferriday pool, despite repairs, may not open
Published Thursday, June 25, 2009
FERRIDAY — Efforts to bring the Ferriday pool up to code are under way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is going to open, Mayor Glen McGlothin said.
Two summers ago, the pool — an issue of great contention — opened and closed repeatedly because of safety and health compliance issues. An outside consultant issued a long list of problems the town would have to fix before the pool could be safely reopened.
In 2008, the pool remained closed.
For the last two weeks, however, workers have been cleaning and repairing the facility, trying to address what needs to be done, said Carl Dangerfield, who served as a consultant for the town the last time the pool was open and has been supervising the work this year.
The work thus far has included making sure the toilets work, finding leaks and making sure children can’t get caught in drains, McGlothin said.
And then there’s the water.
“Basically, we have got to get the pH balance right, and we have to make sure the pumps are working right,” Dangerfield said. “After that, it’s the mayor’s call.”
The water pumps, a source of many of the problems in 2007, have been rebuilt, but the town has not yet been fully able to test them, Dangerfield said.
“We had the pumps on for six hours (Tuesday), but then we had a power outage,” he said.
Even after the work is complete, McGlothin said the town needs two groups to sign off on the facility before it opens — the Department of Health and Hospitals and the town’s insurance company.
The town currently does not have liability insurance for the pool, and can’t open it for public use, McGlothin said.
“If all goes well and we can open it, we will make every effort to do so,” he said.
Comments
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LIES LIES LIES
Posted by fonkeytowngirl (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't understand why they can find money for everything else unnecessary but can't find money to fix this pool? And they wonder why the kids around here get into so much trouble during the summer? There's nothing for them to do!!! My family has to take our kids out of town just to be able to swim at a place large enough for everybody. We could be keeping this money that we spend at these other places at home. This town just suck when it comes to youth recreation. I guess better luck next year!! Yeah right!!
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who will insure it? Too many sue-happy parents just waiting for an "accident".
Posted by bayougal (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need more for the kids to do around here. Summer programs. I've seen the programs that are available in larger places like Baton Rouge. BREC summer camps are awesome! While we don't have BR's resources surely something can be put together. It's been this way forever.
It's time our parish officials did something about it! If we want these youngsters to stay out of trouble, we have to give them decent alternatives.
Posted by bee (anonymous) on June 25, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE,THEN STOP LOOKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT FOR YOU AND START BEING PARENTS. THE TOWNS, PARISHES, AND STATES DO NOT OWE IT TO YOU TO RAISE YOUR KIDS, AND THE SCHOOLS DO NOT EITHER. A SWIMMING POOL OR A BALL GAME IS NOT GOING TO KEEP A KID OUT OF TROUBLE, BUT A PARENT OR INTERESTED ADULT SPENDING TIME WITH A KID WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Posted by bayougal (anonymous) on June 26, 2009 at 5:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most households are two income entities. With kids who are VERY young, the obvious choice is daycare. HOWEVER,
as they get older the options narrow. The availability of programs such as those in larger cities makes the alternatives to leaving these older kids unsupervised much more acceptable.
The best parents are those who look for these types of summer happenings in which their kids can both interact with other children and reap the benefits of being outdoors. While our towns, parish and state don't OWE their residents any type of entertainment for children they DO WANT their communities to be family-friendly and places in which any type of future populace would be inclined to reside.
In mentioning BREC, I merely cited one program which I have personally seen in action. There are many others around the country. These are adults, program coordinators AND parents, who work together to provide their young people within their community options to either being home alone or in any other undesirable situation.
While this area is too small for program such as BREC offers, it IS the responsiblity of the local leaders to consider viable alternatives for the children of Ferriday-Vidalia-Natchez. Oh, by the way, when my children were growing up I WAS involved in MANY, MANY activities during the summer months that my kids enjoyed. I was very lucky to be a stay-at-home mom. NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT OPTION!
Posted by bee (anonymous) on June 26, 2009 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I TOO WORKED AS MY CHILD GREW UP, AND I NEVER MISSED ANY OF HIS ACTIVITIES. I PUT ASIDE THINGS I WANTED TO DO AND MADE SURE I WAS THERE FOR HIM. HE IS A FINE YOUNG MAN, AND I LIKE TO THINK PART OF THIS WAS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER. IF YOU THINK BATON ROUGE HAS GOOD PROGRAMS, THERE IS A REASON, THEY PASSED A SALES TAX FOR RECREATION TO FUND THEIR PROGRAMS. GOOD LUCK PASSING A SALES TAX FOR RECREATION IN OUR AREA.
Posted by bayougal (anonymous) on June 26, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Which is why I said that even though we don't have BR's resources we can certainly do things on a smaller scale which would benefit the children here. I assure you I am VERY AWARE of the BREC program and their many fine volunteers. That's one thing we would have a problem with here also... people as a general rule do not get involved.
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