HOISINGTON — Following recommendation from the pool advisory board, a Lenexa consultant was approved at a price of $8,900 to assist in conceptual design work for the Hoisington city pool following action by the city council at their last regular meeting on Dec. 14. Water’s Edge Aquatic Design will work in consultation with the five-member pool advisory board and city staff. 

“Water’s Edge will work with the advisory board to develop a concept for a new or renovated pool,” said City Manager Jonathan Mitchell. “The consultant will also collaborate with our staff to develop a pool project within the city’s budgetary parameters.”

According to the proposal presented to councilors, the scope of the work by Waters Edge involves three factors:

Aquatics Evaluation and Visioning

· Work with the Pool Advisory Committee and city staff to establish goals for facility. Educate the committee on aquatics trends and options
· Review/evaluate the existing facility
· Share example/benchmark facilities of relevant aquatics facilities
· Summarize key features and amenities to be included
· Determine feasibility of new construction versus renovation
· Determine/recommend site location, with input from pool committee and staff

Concept Planning

· Create pool layouts and concepts that incorporate desired amenities
· Incorporate the selected pool layout onto an aerial image of the site
· Develop opinions of construction costs and basic operating cost expectations
· Establish the budget for the swimming pool project

Deliverables

· Color plan view drawings of the pool concept layouts, including a final concept plan on the chosen site.
· Color images of all proposed features. Hard copies as well as electronic copies can be provided.
· A summary of capital cost projections and potential operating costs for the final layout
· Provide summary information to assist City with a public awareness of the proposed project

The $8,900 is a lump sum, base fee said Jeff Bartley, principal engineer. “This includes our direct expenses such as travel and related items,” he said. “We’re extremely flexible on our approach and subsequent fees for planning.”

In February of this year, councilors appointed five members to the pool advisory board. 

At least one of the five to be appointed would be a student, and then the Hoisington Recreation Commission would select two and the city would select two at-large representatives. 

From the three student applicants, Heaven Hipp was selected. Kevin Burke and Debbie Reif were chosen to serve as at-large members and Chris Kinman and Jessica Baze are the representatives chosen by the Hoisington Recreation Commission to represent the school district. 

“A five-member committee is what the council feels would be ideal,” said Mitchell. “It’s small enough that they’ll be able to do a lot of work and big enough and diverse enough to provide a fair representation of the community’s desires.”