Madison Aquatic Center opening date not set yet

The City of Madison does not have a set timeline yet on when the Madison Aquatic Center may open this summer.  

During their meeting Monday, city commissioners asked Utilities Director Brad Lawrence where things were at with the insurance companies involved.  He said that he has received some information on amounts that one insurance company is willing to pay for repairs to the electrical system at the Center, but not from the other insurance company that handles the other damage to the building and it’s contents.  Lawrence said that making the repairs will depend on when the equipment or supplies needed are available, including a boiler.  City Attorney David Jencks said that the project will also need to be bid.  

Mayor Marshall Dennert said that the Community Center wants to know what to tell lifeguards or those who have applied to work at the Madison Aquatic Center this summer.  Finance Officer Sonya Wilt said if it is going to be too long, staffing may be an issue also.

Wilt said that the Community Center currently has seventeen lifeguards on staff, with more applications, and around ten applications currently for cashiers.  She said that they have looked also at the potential costs and unemployment risk if the city would go forward with a planned opening date in order to hire staff and then have something happen.  

Lawrence told commissioners that he will bring back a proposal and a timeline for the project next week.