The Gering City Council has given a nod of approval to an emergency purchase that helps keep the city pool open when our weather is cooler than normal.
Approved was a $75,000 expenditure made last week for a replacement boiler to be installed by Gering Valley Plumbing by this weekend.
City administrator Pat Heath explained why the purchase could not follow the standard bid process. “Unfortunately, the boiler failed last week. When they fired up the boiler a few weeks ago, they told us if ordering, it’s about nine months to get a boiler,” said Heath. “After the boiler failed, we did some checking, there is one in Omaha and it’s ordered, that’s why we did the emergency purchase. The only difference between that boiler and the existing boiler is configuration, which will just require a little extra piping.”
The city had budgeted $100,000 for pool maintenance issues, $30,000 of which had already been committed to other repair projects.
A budgeted $50,000 project for repairs to the piers of the water slide will be delayed to help cover that shortfall plus any other emergent repair issues. The slide will be monitored throughout the summer season to ensure the safety of that piece of equipment for pool patrons.
