Tuesday, July 7th, 2026
Fort officials still studying best use of pool funds
By William Kincaid
FORT RECOVERY - Village officials are still contemplating whether to spend $441,000 in state funding on a new splash pad or to apply the money toward overhauling the swimming pool or even building a new swimming pool.
However, timing is of the essence, and a decision will likely have to be made yet this summer, village administrator Aaron Rengers told The Daily Standard after Monday night's regular council meeting.
Village officials had initially intended to rehab the pool, which they believe to be at least 40 years old, but later leaned toward a splash pad project after failing to secure the necessary additional funding.
Officials currently have $441,000 in state funding available for the project. They initially received that award in 2024. However, it must be spent by Dec. 31, 2027, or they will forfeit the state grant.
Rengers met with commercial pool service company Buddenbaum and Moore of Indiana shortly after Memorial Day to get some initial ideas on what they can afford.
A recirculating splash pad would likely cost $780,000 while a non-recirculating system, or domestic system, would cost $360,000, Rengers told village councilors Monday night.
Councilors then launched into a conversation about whether the state funds could be applied toward a swimming pool rehab.
Rengers said it would cost $1.5 million to overhaul the swimming pool.
"The most critical need would be the stainless steel circulation system, which is the most expensive part of that," Rengers said, pointing out that the swimming pool lost an estimated 500,000 gallons last month.
"That's a lot of water," he said.
Rengers said the village could try to apply again for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, but warned it's "super competitive."
"They don't really want to put money towards something that's open three months a year for a community of 1,500," he said.
Rengers said if the village is unable to raise $1 million in the next six months, it's probably not feasible to fix the pool, given the looming deadline to spend the state grant dollars.
Mayor Dave Kaup spoke of potentially building a new swimming pool, which according to Rengers would cost about $3 million. On the idea of fundraising, Kaup said businesses are already overwhelmed with requests for donations.
"It's one thing after another," he said.
Kaup floated the idea of putting a levy on the ballot to finance the construction of a new swimming pool.
Though councilors did not debate the merits of a swimming pool levy, they did talk about forming a commitee and surveying the community on which direction to go.
"There's people in our community that are willing to be on the committee, that want to start talking to people about whether they want a new pool, fix the old pool. Let's get some answers," Kaup said.
