Leechburg Area Pool in Gilpin needs help from public to stay afloat

The future of the Leechburg Area Pool could be in jeopardy if it can’t recruit new board members, officials said Monday.

The six-decade-old pool in Gilpin could potentially dissolve, which is akin to a form of bankruptcy, the pool’s board told members in a letter posted to Facebook.

“We need enough people to be able to go out there at one time and work on the pool,” board member Chad Krawczyk told the Tribune-Review.

“Even if two or three people were able to go out once a week, that’s still not enough. We have a deadline of March to be able to get this up and running.”

The nine-member board has been performing maintenance work at the pool on their own to save on expenses for the past five years. But, because of life obligations and work schedules, they won’t be able to devote as much time to the pool this upcoming season.

The new members would be needed by March, as work to get the pool open in time for Memorial Day weekend starts in April.

The board plans to hold an emergency meeting Feb. 23 to discuss the situation. Eight new board members would be sufficient to save the pool, the board said.

The board president and secretary both resigned, meaning those positions need to be filled. The current board members don’t plan on leaving and will train new members. The remaining board members in addition to Krawczyk are Lisa Hamm, Dana Aul, Dave Safranyos, Jenn Salsgiver, Christy Henry, Chris Broda, Marcy Broda and Jason Oliver.

Board members and volunteers would be tasked with opening the pool, fundraising, painting the pool, cleaning the pool and pool filters, supervising teenagers working at the pool, putting chemicals in the pool and helping with landscaping, electrical and plumbing work.

“If we could have more help from the community, that would be great,” Krawczyk said.

The pool is funded through memberships and fundraising. It has about 100 members but is open to the public. Last year’s operating budget was $92,000.

It has beaten financial hardships, having managed to pay off an $85,000 loan that was taken out in 2008 to pay off debt.

The board said they made about $7,000 in upgrades to the pool last year with money from its donation account.

Those upgrades included having a pump refurbished, fixing a backed-up drain by the diving board and putting a sprinkler fountain in the baby pool.

“I’d hate to see it close. There’s no reason to close it because it’s not financially distressed in any way,” Krawczyk said. “It’s just the volunteers — we need help opening it.”

Board members said the township provides a $2,500 yearly donation to the pool.

Gilpin Supervisors Chairman Charles Stull said the township hopes the pool board is able to find new members and volunteers.

“The Leechburg Area Pool is a huge asset to not only Gilpin Township but all surrounding communities as it creates forms of recreation for both young and old,” Stull said.