Ames High School pool inspected but no reopening date yet
Ames High School's pool has been inspected and is awaiting approval from state health authorities to reopen, according to the latest update from the School District.
The Iowa Department of Public Health forced the district to close the pool Sept. 14, three weeks after the new high school opened and after Ames had already hosted two girls' swim meets with Des Moines Roosevelt and Mason City.
In a cease and desist letter, the state health department said it had never received a construction permit, had not reviewed engineering plans and the pool had not been inspected or registered with the state.
More:Ames' pool closed after proper permits weren't filed. Who is responsible for the oversight?
Since the closure, the district submitted all documents, and the state health department has reviewed plans and inspected the pool Sept. 27, according to an update from the district published Monday.
"We are complying with all requests and are presently awaiting approval from IDPH to reopen the pool," according to the update.
There was no information released on when the rescheduled dedication event for the naming of the pool after late coach Dan Flannery would be.
"As we work to restore access, the Ames CSD is also working to better understand the source of the errors that caused this operational pause. We understand the frustration of our community and know there are questions surrounding the pool reopening and rescheduled dedication event. We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of all teams involved and for having such invested families, students and community members. Your patience is genuinely appreciated," the district's statement added.
The district has said it is meeting with Story Construction, the overall construction manager for the new high school project, and North Dakota-based Associated Pool Builders, which had the contract for the swimming pool and its equipment.
State law requires the pool's owner or a designated representative submit an application for a construction permit with the state health department at least 15 days before the start of construction. The department is also to be notified of the pool's completion at least 15 days before its expected opening.
The walls and ceilings around the pool in Ames were put up in 2020, according to reports from Story Construction to the school board’s facilities committee. Excavation started in January 2021.
Phillip Sitter covers education for the Ames Tribune, including Iowa State University and PreK-12 schools in Ames and elsewhere in Story County. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ames High School pool awaiting state approval to reopen
