WATERVILLE — The City Council on Tuesday will consider voting to increase fees for using the Alfond Municipal Pool, approving grants for work at Robert LaFleur Municipal Airport and contributing $25,000 to Waterville Creates.

The virtual meeting will be held at 7 p.m. and will be livestreamed via a link on the city’s website, and those wanting to participate must register on that site.

Increased fees are being proposed using the Harold Alfond Municipal Pool on North Street, which is expected to open June 19 after undergoing a $4 million pool replacement and renovation project. In the spring of last year, a committee was formed to develop a business plan for the pool. A new rate structure was developed and an investigation has been undertaken to explore other potential revenue streams.

This year, daily admission rates would be increased by $1, if the council approves the plan. Current rates for Waterville residents, for pool use only, are $4 for children, $5 for adults and free for seniors. Nonresident children pay $6, adults, $9 and seniors, $5 for the pool only.

With the suggested $1 increase resident fees would be; children, $5 for the pool only and $8 for the pool and slides, a resident adult, $6 for the pool only and $9 for both the pool and slides, and seniors are admitted free. A nonresident child would pay $7 for the pool only and $10 for the pool and slides, a nonresident adult, $10 for the pool and $13 for the pool and slides, and nonresident seniors, $5 for either just the pool or the pool and slides.

Under the proposal, individual season pass rates would increase by $10 for both residents and nonresidents. Resident family season pass rates and nonresident season pass rates would also increase. A combination pool and slide pass would be new this year. The total additional revenue the city expects to get from the increases is $27,048. Rates would increase again in 2023 and 2025, according to the proposal. Modest increases to concessions, swim lessons and rentals would net the city about $2,000 annually.

In a separate but related matter, the council is scheduled to consider accepting and appropriating $2.29 million in grant funds from the Harold Alfond Foundation for the second phase of the pool work, payable in two installments. The council took a first vote May 18 to approve the request.

In other matters Tuesday, councilors are slated to consider contributing $25,000 to the arts organization, Waterville Creates, as part of the city’s efforts to start helping fund community service organizations it has not been contributing to over the last several years. The council also will consider establishing a community service organization support committee that would propose a formal process for determining the extent and specific allocation of city funds to support organizations “that provide valuable services to the community beyond the capacity of the city.”

Also on Tuesday’s agenda are several items related to the Robert LaFleur Municipal Airport. One is a request to approve a contract with United Ag and Turf of Fairfield for $202, 374 for John Deere equipment including a tractor with rotary bush hog cutter, front mower with mowing deck, compact tractor with backhoe and another mower. Funds would be used from both a remaining 2020 bond and a general fund allocation.

The council will consider accepting a $4.63 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and authorize the city manager to issue a notice to proceed for Sargent Corporation in Old Town to complete a project to reconstruct Taxiway A and replace the airfield electrical vault. Two votes are needed to approve the request and one vote may be taken Tuesday. In addition, the council will be asked to accept a $13,000 Cares Act grant for use at the airport.

Also Tuesday, the council is scheduled to review the proposed school budget; consider establishing a transportation committee to evaluate public transportation needs and strategies for addressing them; taking a first vote to spend up to $25,000 to buy and place decorative concrete traffic barriers downtown; awarding a $32,580 contract to J.S. Industrial Arts Company LLC for custom-built bookshelves for Waterville Public Library; and taking a first vote to authorize spending $32,000 to modify traffic signal equipment for the downtown revitalization project.

 

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