What used to be an Olympic-grade indoor swimming facility will soon become a large indoor basin of gravel and dirt.
After reviewing four bids for the project, the Scottsbluff School Board this week voted to accept a bid of $28,500 from Mark Chrisman Trucking to fill the pool inside the former Splash Arena, with funds coming from the QCPUF fund.
Superintendent Dr. Andrew Dick explained to KNEB News the step was recommended in an effort to preserve the building itself.
“More times than not throughout the year, there is a there is standing water in the base of that pool just because of the high level of the ground water,” said Dr. Dick. “So, by filling that in with a dirt, sand (and) gravel substance, then we wouldn’t have water sitting in there contributing to the mold within the building.”
In addition to just filling in the pool structure, there was an alternative requested from bidders to fill in the pool, remove structures like diving boards and then pave the floor with concrete.
That option with a minimum bid of $145,000 was considered first, but failed on a tie vote of 3 to 3. The Board then voted unanimously to move forward with the fill-only alternative.
