WINONA, Minn. – The city Parks Department arranged a swimming option at the Saint Mary’s University pool while repairs continue at the city’s Bob Welch Aquatic Center on the West End. Punch passes and memberships will be accepted at the Saint Mary’s Jule Gernes pool, which is inside the Toner Student Center. The daily rate: $2. Children 4 years old and younger are free. The Bob Welch opening has been delayed twice so far. The Parks Department hopes to have the pool fixed by July 1. The meantime pool times at Saint Mary’s begin Tuesday:
> June 23 and 24: 12 to 4 p. m.
<>June 25: 12:30 to 4 p.m.
> June 26, 27 and 28: None.
> June 29 and 30: 12 to 4 p.m.
Project profile
Municipal park leaders had recognized that the Bob Welch Aquatic Center, built in 1990, was needful of major repairs. The heaters, the chemical system and the filtration system were on their their last legs. This was in 2022. Engineering consultants projected, as expected, that repairs and essential upgrades would be a big-ticket item — an estimated $683,000. The city asked for bids. Horizon Commercial Pool Supply of Arden Hills, a north Twin Cities suburb, submitted the low bid. The bid was near the engineering projection. Two other bids exceeded $800,000. This spring Commercial Pool sounded the alarm that the city’s deadline to open the pool in the second weekend of June was problematic. The problem was mostly because of interruptions in the global supply system for industrial components. These were typical of industrial supply crises due to the tariff war launched by President Trump in January.