Dearborn: Extensive Repairs Needed at Crowley Pool
Dearborn officials say sand and soil underneath the Crowley pool deck have been washed out by the pipe leak.
Pipe leaks in Dearborn’s Crowley pool appear to have caused more serious damage that originally believed and the needed repairs could keep the pool closed for the summer.
The city of Dearborn says leaks have washed away areas of the foundation under the pool deck, making the deck unsafe.
“The City must continue to determine the extent of that wash out and how best to stabilize the foundation of the deck,” according to a press release issued Friday afternoon.
This close up photo illustrates how sand and soil underneath the pool deck have been washed out by the pipe leak.
City contractors Friday identified the location of the leak in the pipe under the pool deck and made repairs to the specific site. But the scope of the repairs is more serious and goes beyond that one site, the city says.
The city says it also must address the following before it can even consider whether a re-opening can occur this season:
- The most cost-efficient way to repair or replace sections of the pool deck in order to best cover that foundation.
- The aging pipes of the circulatory system and the cost of replacing the pipes. Left unchecked, the pipes could leak in the future, disrupting the foundation and deck again.
The city has not yet provided details on how much repairs will cost but NSA, the company Dearborn hired earlier this year to assess the condition of all eight outdoor pools, is assessing the impact and repair costs. For more about NSA, click HERE
NSA will make recommendations to the City as soon as possible, the city says. NSA’s recommendations will likely include several approaches, from less expensive, “quick fix” repairs, the city says, to more extensive, longer lasting solutions.
Built in 1964, the problems facing Crowley pool aren’t unexpected, the city says. The hull of Crowley’s pool was replaced in the 1970s, and the city says it is now 10 years past its life expectancy. City crews repaired a leak in the pool hull in early June, fixing that problem before the pipe leak was discovered.
NSA will provide a report to the city on the condition of all pools, including Crowley, and the associated costs to fix or maintain them now and for the long term. After receiving those recommendations, Dearborn officials say they will be in a better position to make a decision on whether to open Crowley pool this season.
June 19th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Could you explain to me who the NSA is? Just curious.
June 19th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Cloe: here is the link to the NSA’s website:
http://www.nsa-ae.com/
June 19th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
This is NOT good news for the Crowley sub, SOP and anyone else that wants to see Crowley fixed and open ASAP. Not being an engineer, I cannot comprehend why our newest small pool is in such dire shape, when the other much older ones are operating fine. Any experts out there than can answer? Thanks…
June 19th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Take the hint Michael, the big guy is trying to show u that you don’t mess with him, and yours is going to take forever simply to show u that u don’t screw with him.
June 19th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I am curious how much it cost to have NSA look into this situation. I know that we have city planners, city engineers and a public works department on the Dearborn payroll.
We are always going to “experts” for their opinions. I just wonder how much these experts are costing the taxpayers.
June 20th, 2010 at 8:44 am
SOP has been informed by our city leaders that our engineers and city employees are not qualified to rectify these issues at Crowley Pool. Therefore, the city hired NSA, a firm that is supposed to be qualified to analyze and fix these issues. With no disrespect to NSA intended, I’ve been to Crowley a number of times that NSA is supposed to be working on the pool, which was during business and/or pool hours and only witnessed NSA there once along with the head of the Park Rangers. I’ve noticed that more and more cement seems to be torn up each time
I visit, but NSA is not there and it seems each time we hear even worse news as to more issues needing rectifying.
Crowley, like Snow sub, is a subdivision that is remote to the rest of the city. The children in these subs should not be expected to cross major roads like Telegraph, which is more like a freeway to get to another pool. The closest pool to Crowley is Whitmore-Bolles, too far away from Crowley.
I hope David is incorrect in his assessment, as this would not be a very wise MO for any city leader. Crowley sub civic leaders, the Neighborhood Association, the Friends of Crowley Pool and others there and from the city, along with our SOP need to scream high and loud that they’re not going to take it anymore and that they expect their pool to be open ASAP. Especially since a separate $40,000 was budgeted last year to resolve all the issues at Crowley.
June 20th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Fact check – sometime during the middle of last season it was discovered by the City that water loss was occuring to Crowley pool. Water meter readings are required on the daily maintenance check sheets but it appeared to go unoticed for a while into the 09 season. Possible Root Cause for the leak include the following:
– Incorrect winterization of the pools piping system during Fall ’08’ (location of leak is above freeze line, current pool water dropped to about ~1ft below pool deck), Freeze line is roughly ~3 ft below the deck.
– ‘Possible’ incorrect design of matting the new filter/pump system installed at Crowley pool to the pool piping prior to last season (filter system water flow was increased from the original system while piping from the pump system to the pool remained the same),
– ‘Old piping’ – I do have access to a metalurgical lab to identify the leaky pipes failure mode and will advise the city. The NSA study specifically states ‘no metalurgical testing’ or ‘x-ray testing’ to occur.
From the leak last year, money was put into the budget (confirmed by recreation) to account for the difference in water usage between summer of 08 and 09, about a ~$40,000 difference. (This budget ends June 30th, hopefully NSA / City’s decision will not go past this date??)
It is possible that the washout seen under the current torn up cement could have been minimized or prevented if steps were taken to check the leak last year and correct in the area of the breakage. One item to note is the broken up cement near the area of the old baby pool. The pipe connecting the previous pool’s main drain was not capped when I reviewed it the night that area of cement was removed. This pipe near the brand new cement had an open end under the deck. SOP was not advised of any leak testing at the end of the 09 season.
Note – the City did advise that a crack in the seam weld of the pool bottom was found. This is the previous repair identified for this year and a contractor was hired to re-weld the seam. Location was at the bottom/angle edge
SOP did request the City complete an air pressure test to the Drain and Jet lines prior to the filling of the pool the beginning of May. DPW has completed these type of tests in the past using rubber plugs, an air gauge and an air compressor. Recreation advised SOP the Jet test was unsuccseful as DPW’s equipment was not compatible with Crowley pool. Testing proceeded with filling the pool and cameras (up to accesible points).
Another fact check – The ~$500,000 per pool or ~3+ Million dollars needed within the next 5 years stated by the admistration as required to sustain these outdoor pools came from a Study by VFA, DPW and Recreation. SOP challenged the validity of these numbers. My first FOIA request response specifically stated that VFA did not complete a study on pool related items (VFA’s experience is more Buildings / Structural) – this means NO pool hulls. The major costs of the above were ‘estimates’ from B&B pools and not based on actual need.
The Recreation department did agree with SOP that these number were not realistic and advised the City was working to hire NSA for (another) study to get closer to the real numbers. Note that while the previous press release states NSA has been working with the City, it’s been for previous items from years past. NSA has only started working with the City regarding these pool studies as of this month. I believe (need verfication) last week was the first site visit for the new study with NSA.
Note – the Pool at Camp Dearborn is not part of this new NSA study. CAMP DEARBORN is also making money.
June 21st, 2010 at 12:03 pm
This is simple negligence on the part of the recreation department. The problems with the pools did not happen over night, citizens must hold Mayor Pudding Pants accountable for his lack of oversight. Why was money spent on a welcome center to the tune of 90 thousand dollars, and no money spent to upkeep the pools. How many residents asked for a welcome center? How many residents will ever use the welcome center? Now how many residents use the pools? How many residents demanded the pools stay open? Dont tell me there is no money. Pudding Pants spends money like a drunken sailor on self promotional crap but when it come to kids thats when the tap stops. We must demand this Mayor be held accountable for his abject laziness. It aint fun being Mayor when you actually have citizens watching and holding you accountable. Being mayor is more than walking around with a big pair of scissors cutting ribbons for cell phone and tanning salons grand openings.
June 21st, 2010 at 4:17 pm
If you went to the city council meeting and saw that Crowley was last on the list as far as priority and usage. So it is no surprise they were dragging their feet about spending money here where we need it. I’m tired of hearing about what a poor neighborhood this is etc… I even heard a real estate agent describe it as a “blue collar neighborhood”. Just because there a lot of single parents and blue collar workers here doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of good people in this neighborhood. And if it is a neighborhood of hard working citizens then their kids do need a safe place to swim and play in the summer. Maybe if they didn’t always delay the opening of Crowley and drag their feet when it comes time to make a repair here than more people would be using the pool. My kids have swam here for years and I can count several times where the pool opening has been delayed. So how many parents who’s kids don’t have rides ACROSS TELEGRAPH to the other pools want to spend $100 on a family pass when they don’t even know if their kids will get to use the pool this summer? Then their swim and synchro teams will get a late start since not all the kids have transportation to Whitmore. I saw they have passed out the new trash cans to the other neighborhoods did the Crowley area get theres yet? NO. Guess us poor people can just wait and do without AGAIN. BUT REMEMBER WE STILL GET TO VOTE OVER HERE!!!!!
June 21st, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I wonder how much money was spent on the new siren system that nobody can hear when the old one could be heard just fine. Then they don’t want to spend money to fix a pool for the kids? This is the kind of thing that really grinds my gears!
What was the reason for replacing the sirens and how much did it cost? Anybody know?
June 21st, 2010 at 8:46 pm
For those who did not see the council meeting tonight Jack said that if all goes well Crowley pool should open next week – time will tell.
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
That would be nice Donna, but I won’t hold my breath waiting.
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:22 pm
wassamattau: Well said. Thank God for Ryan Wood and his knowledge. This is exactly what all government needs. This is holding our elected official accountable. Imagine the waste that goes on in other areas.
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:29 pm
wassamattau: good points. WAit til you get that garabage can – its a dandy! When you see the size and figure the amount of $ to send one to each home in Dbn., you may see how money gets wasted. Thanks to SOP you may get your pool and this is far more important for our neighborhoods-all our neighborhoods.
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Thank you all for your support. Often times this area gets overlooked. I’m so grateful to everyone especially S.O.P for sticking up for our area. They could have just been busy swimming in their own open pools, but they took the time to help us. We all need to stick together so our tax dollars are used for things the residents want. I never really paid attention to how much money was wasted here until they said there was no money for the things I care about. I think this is a wake up call for the residents here not to take things for granted and to keep an eye on how our tax dollars are being spent and let our voices be heard.