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Eagle Lake City Council compared the cost and usage of the city pool, swore in its new city attorney and discussed other business during its meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Mayor Tim Kelley requested a review of the city pool’s annual operating costs and introduced the topic to the council. City Manager Tink Jackson estimated the annual operating cost to be between $20,000 and $25,000 to run the pool, not including the cost of lifeguard staffing and chemicals. He clarified that the operating costs are difficult to calculate due to the pool sharing water and electricity meters with the neighboring park, gazebo, bathrooms and light pole.
“If you have a spot where you have leaks and you go in and repair those leaks, the work that you’re doing around shifts something or moves something,” Jackson said. “…Chasing leaks and fixing stuff out there is going to be a forever deal when it comes to maintaining the pool.”
The pool was originally constructed almost a century ago between 1934 and 1937 and has required numerous repairs since due to leaks from the pool’s unstable foundation. In 2023, the city received a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and matched $54,000 in funds for repairs to the pool.
“The last time we made repairs was prior to the development of the basketball court that we have at the community center now,” Jackson said. “This last year, we didn’t have as near as many kids using the pool as before because a lot of those kids are now hanging out there near the basketball court.”
Jackson suggested replacing the pool with a splashpad, an idea he’s previously discussed with Kelly. He recognized that the pool provides a small number of jobs and proposed creating internships and other positions throughout the city to balance the loss.
“A splashpad would require a lot less maintenance. It wouldn’t require anybody being over there because splashpads operate themselves,” Jackson said. “…It would be able to be open earlier in the year because you don’t have to wait until the kids get out of school to open it up.”
Councilmember Amy Maxwell said she likes the idea of a pool and a splashpad. She said she would like to see more marketing and engagement with the pool, like a DJ night and other fun events.
“I also think it’s important for kids to have opportunities to learn how to swim to do the skills and not just at a splashpad,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell emphasized the need to review costs and other numbers before acting. Kelley said converting the pool to a splashpad would not affect the LCRA grant. The council decided to wait on a potential cost estimate for further review.
Other business
Kelley swore in Daniel Sylvia of Olson & Olson LLP to be the city’s new deputy city attorney and municipal court prosecutor. Sylvia hails from Liberty and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2018. Sylvia previously worked as an attorney with Davis, Fielder & Sylvia PLLC. He joined Olson & Olson in 2022.
The council also approved the ordering of an election for mayor and four city council positions, with two being the unexpired vacancies.
Finally, the council discussed their preliminary thoughts on the external evaluation of the Eagle Lake Police Department. Maxwell headlined the discussion, primarily suggesting analyzing how the department markets itself to candidates. Jackson dismissed her suggestion and said candidates understand the position when they interview. The Citizen has not yet received a copy of the report and will publish a more in-depth story upon reviewing the report.
