LISBON — As the village has been working toward opening the pool in time for this summer, the weather has not been making things any easier, said councilman Jerry Cox. “Just my history of construction, we are throwing out perfect conditions,” Cox said. “The way the weather has been for the first four and a half months this year has just been terrible.” He estimated the project was running at least three weeks behind schedule.

Councilwoman Linda Donnalley, chair of the parks committee, said at Tuesday’s council meeting that the inside of the pool was being pressure washed. She said it was a slower job than she had hoped it would be. Initially, she gave a projected timeline of progress toward opening the pool.

“The hope is the week of Friday the 20th the plan is to paint the pool floor. That’s provided the weather cooperates,” Donnalley said. “Once they paint, the paint has to dry for like three days. So hopefully on the 23rd they are planning to fill the pool and then, maybe around the 25th, do the concrete.”

However, Cox expressed his concerns about the feasibility of finishing the pool by the end of the month. “According to my plans I think we are three weeks behind schedule. It’s going to take three to four days to paint the pool,” Cox said. “This isn’t paint like when you’re painting a house or a wall or anything like that. This is a really thick consistency. Yes, it is one coat but it’s a rubberized paint.”

Cox had his own timeline of when the pool may be finished. “This is just my opinion,” Cox said. “Let’s say hypothetically we work Friday and Saturday and we take Sunday off and work Monday and Tuesday. So the pool is painted on the 24th. You’re going to need at least three days for the paint to cure so that has us at Friday the 27th.”

With Memorial Day on May 30, Cox said if they start filling the pool up on the 31st, it will be a three-day process, which will take them to June 3. He added that it will take about 48 hours to test the pool for leaks and to make sure the pumps are working properly. He estimated that would take until possibly June 8. And then, there is still more work yet to be done.

“We haven’t even scheduled to pour concrete yet,” Cox said. “So let’s say hypothetically the concrete people are really really really nice and they say, we are going to show up on Monday the 13th. That’s going to be a two day pour, maybe three days. You’ve got a 48-hour cure time and then you come in with your concrete saws and cut everything. That has us til Friday the 17th.”

Next, after cleaning up concrete dust and making sure everything is operational, Cox said the pool may be ready to open on Saturday the 18th, if the weather is extremely cooperative throughout the process. However, clerk Tracey Wonner had another matter to consider.

“I’m going to throw another curveball because you have not even been inspected yet,” Wonner said. “You are not going to get inspected by the county until everything is done and they have to give you permission to open it. I sent the pool license application in. That is done. They will set up the inspection with Jace [the pool manager] and they will tell you if you pass or fail or if you can open it.”

Cox said he had forgotten about the inspection and added that onto the timeline. “With the inspection, you might be lucky to open the week of the 24th. And that’s more reality than any of this,” he said. “It’s just the way things are going this year. This has been terrible. Contractors are behind, cement pourers are behind. I don’t care if you’re in Salem or Leetonia, wherever. The street departments are behind. There’s just nothing you can do when it’s pouring down rain.”

Donnalley said she would like to try to open the splash pad for Memorial Day weekend, if possible. She also said that she would like admission to be free on at least opening day, although it remains to be seen when that will be.

In other village news, fire chief Mark Hall told council that the fire department has ordered new equipment with a $150,000 state fire marshal grant they were awarded. He said Sen. Michael Rulli was helpful as they went through the process of applying.

“First we registered through the state fire marshal’s office and we were awarded the money. Then we submitted a list of equipment we wanted to buy and it was approved,” Hall said.

Some items the department was able to order included new air bottles for air packs, SCBA gear, 3,100 feet of 4 inch LDH supply hose, hand tools, battery-powered electric fans and portable scene lights. They are also getting a new command vehicle. Hall said it’s a 2021 or 2022 Dodge one-ton crew cab.

“It was stuff we needed to replace,” Hall said. “The grants are appreciated. Every bit helps.”

With council approval, the cemetery has hired two part-time workers for the summer to help out in the cemetery, and Krotky said they are trying something new this time. “Something we have never done before is to hire kids under 18,” cemetery trustee Gene Krotky said. “This young man is 16 years of age. He has had experience in Calcutta. He kind of has his own lawn business where he cuts grass.”

Krotky said the boy has gotten a work permit from his school and he can begin when school is out. “The young man has great grades and everybody praises him and his work ethic,” she said. “I know this is a departure from what we usually do but we are asking to make that exception. If this young man works out, it may be a good source of help for us in the future.”

Krotky said the supervisor would be on the site watching over the new hire to make sure he is safe and well-trained. “He was the only applicant we had at $10.65 an hour. You can go to McDonald’s at $14 an hour.”

The police department also received approval to hire a new dispatcher part-time, Taylor Mellington. Chairwoman Dawn Thomas spoke for police chief Mike Abraham who was not in attendance. She said Mellington is not intended to take the place of anybody at this point but with vacations coming up, the extra coverage will be needed. “To make sure they can cover for vacations and such he would like to hire her,” Thomas said. “She is currently working part time at the sheriff’s office and has been trained on all their training. She would be trained only on our specific reporting that’s specific to our police department.”

The board also voted to replace landscape lights in the square with Solstis Electric for $800.

The next council meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 17.

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