By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
About the only thing City of Burlington Mayor Bob Miller is sure of right now with the Burlington Community Pool is the uncertainty.
The issue of what to do with the pool – now that negotiations with Burbach Aquatics have been broken off – will be back before the City Council next Tuesday.
“We’re going back to the council on the second of June,” Miller said. “We’re going to ask for some direction.”
The city had hoped to iron out contract language with Burbach – a company that has pursued litigation with some communities – so the city’s liability moving forward with any possible improvements would be limited.
However, that did not happen, and the council officially approved breaking off negotiations at the end of April.
Now, the council will have to go back to the drawing board and try again to determine what should be done with the aging structure. The pool, originally built about 50 years ago, could be facing extensive repairs in the near future.
Burbach was supposed to lead a study within the community and find out if a referendum to levy for improvements would be worth pursuing.
Now, Miller isn’t sure where the council stands on the issue.
“I think they’re looking for some more information, and that’s kind of what I’m asking,” he said.
The council has debated the project, with opinions unclear as to the need for the pool in the community.
When the Burbach deal fell through, Miller said the chance of actually putting forth a referendum this year was next to nil.
However, exactly what the timeframe is for the project is unclear to him.
“As of right now, I no longer have a timeline,” Miller said. “That’s going to have to be reconstructed based on the council’s discussion Tuesday night, based on what direction they want to go.”
Police chief
Applications were due Thursday for the police chief position for the City of Burlington.
The Police and Fire Commission chose to conduct an internal search for the position, left open when Peter Nimmer left May 15 for Shorewood.
The requirements for the position include having a bachelor’s degree, and preferences of at least 10 years police experience with five of those in a supervisory position.
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