Pool violations concern council

By Mary Zielinski
The Kalona municipal pool’s repeated violation citing from the Washington County Environmental Health Department “will de addressed” Mayor Jerry Kauffman told the city council Monday.
In fact, he arranged for the Parks and Recreation Committee, two council members, city administrator Doug Morgan and Parks and Recreation Supervisors Todd Fitzsenry to be at the pool at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The pool inspection report that followed an inspection by Lori Swan of the Washington County Environmental Health Department August 3 was presented to the council Monday. Specifically cited were repeated violations for a broken pressure gauge,deficient chlorine levels in the pool and no soap in the men’s or women’s restrooms. Additionally, there were citations for deficiencies of no cold compress in the first-aid kit, chipped pain in the wading pool, deteriorating diving board surface and the pool’s water balance indicating water could be scale forming.
The council also received copies of previous reports, dating to 2005, showing other violations, and indications that they were addressed and repaired. In fact, Kauffman stressed that the violations noted in 2008 were rectified.
The problem, as noted by council member Claudine Miller-Zahradnek, “is there show a pattern,” and that the county sanitarian, Jeff Thomann “is very upset with us.”
Council member Dave Kempf said, “I don’t care about the past. It is what we need to do now,” adding that with the change in job descriptions and outlining responsibilities, the city should “be more proactive.”
Council member Dave Bentley agreed, noting emphasis on maintenance and operations, could “make this a Class A pool.”
Thomann, contacted Tuesday morning, said “it is very much a maintenance issue,” noting that for any pool “operation and maintenenance are the most critical.”
Agreeing that soap is a minor matter, he stressed chlorine levels are not, “This is extremely important. It is how to keep the water disinfected.”
The inspection of the Kalona pool, as with the other five in the county, is yearly and if the owners provide a corrective action statement, that’s where is usually ends until the next year.
“We cannot babysit these operations,” he said, but admitted that repeated violations “is frustrating for me and my staff.”
Even more, he said, there are liabilities issues with a pool that should concern cities.
What about the other five public pools in the county?
“They have had only minor violations,” he replied.