Residents and families who would like to go swimming on hot days this summer season will have one less option to choose from.
Monday, Sarnia City Council authorized the closure of Jackson Pool for the remainder of 2016.
Staff will now investigate and provide options to consider it as part of overall development of the Germain Park Complex Master Plan.
Councillor Mike Kelch stressed the closure is only temporary.
"I have had people say this is a motion about closing the pool and it is not, we have to shut it down to take a look at what needs to be done and we need a report back that says here's your options," says Kelch.
Councillor Dave Boushy voted against the motion, stating he doesn't think it will be a temporary closure.
"I'm concerned about a couple of things, once something closes it stays closed in my experience," says Boushy.
"The other concern I have is there's a village of repairs that needs to be done, why weren't they done routinely?"
Director of Parks and Recreation Beth Gignac clarified staff have been working as best as they could to keep the repairs patched, however, substructural failures are now beyond their abilities, which is why a deeper investigation is needed.
Monday's report says the 44' x 82' in-ground pool on East St., built in 1966, is in need of major improvements.
Recommended structural repairs, a pool liner replacement, accessibility upgrades, and asbestos remediation could cost upwards of $167,000.
