Updating the physical needs of John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool was among the topics discussed by the North Whidbey Pool, Park and Recreational District commissioners at their monthly meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22.

One of the other noteworthy items on the agenda of the virtual meeting conducted on Zoom was a presentation by Island County Treasurer Wanda Grone about investment opportunities for the NWPPRD.

Most of the minor repairs at the pool are completed but several major projects remain.

Smaller projects such as reseating restroom fixtures, replacing light bulbs and cleaning gutters are finished, according to Shane Hoffmire.

Also, the hot tub is “good to go,” Hoffmire said. “Almost every piece of equipment in the hot tub is brand new.”

One part of the hot tub, the jets, still need to be replaced, he added, but the tub is “fine for the time being.”

“It’s hard to overstate the amount of work it takes to keep the pool running, even when it is not open to the public,” Hoffmire said.

Major projects discussed were replacing or repairing the roof, replacing the SUP pump and installing a vertical back flow preventer.

“The place looks like Niagara Falls when it rains,” Hoffmire said in regard to the leaky roof.

The flat portion of the roof over the training pool, which was still saturated during the drier summer months, is particularly worrisome, Hoffmire said.

“We are not looking at failure,” but the added weight of the water and possible winter snow “could be a problem,” he said.

The portion of consistently wet roof is also causing rust at the edges of the metal roof, Hoffmire said, which is another concern.

Replacing the metal roof would be much more expensive, he said.

Facilities Director Jay Cochran said she would research bids for the roof repair, which would give the commissioners a good idea of the cost.

The bid would be to repair some parts and replace others, Cochran added.

“It is cheaper overall to do it as one project than to do it in pieces,” she said.

Commissioner John Chargualaf said they need to “look at the big picture.”

“Do we have a plan for all these little projects?” he asked. “I see a piecemeal approach, but I don’t have a good understanding where exactly we are in the total projects.”

Commission Chair Chris Wiegenstein agreed, noting “there needs to be a comprehensive schedule of maintenance.”

Grone’s presentation introduced the commissioners to the Island County treasurer’s investment pool.

Island County switched, Grone said, from an internal investment pool to an external pool, which gives the county more flexibility in its investment choices.

Special purpose districts have the opportunity to self direct their own investments, she explained.

Had the NWPPRD been part of the group last year, it would have earned $7,000, she said.

“Almost all special purpose districts in the country have chosen to come aboard,” Grone said.

The commissioners voted unanimously to take part.

In other business, Cochran told the commissioners she applied for a $12,000 grant to cover COVID expenses, that she would be meeting with the school district to discuss an intergovernmental agreement and that the park district’s latest recreational offering, kickball, was “a resounding success.”

The commissioners also agreed to “clean up” the language in the special event and facility use application in regard to refunds for cancellations; agreed to hire consultants Archbright to get their employees manual “up to snuff”; and decided to take a closer look at the district’s contract with Barron Heating and Air Conditioning before renewing it.