CALAIS, Maine — When the filtration system on the Howard Fox Memorial Pool failed at the end of last season, officials feared they would not be able to open in 2016.
A new filtration system costs about $70,000, said Jim Porter, Calais city manager. The pool’s entire annual operating budget is only a little more than $30,000 — not enough to both purchase the needed infrastructure and run the pool.
“We can’t open without a new filtration system,” said Craig Morrison, the city’s recreation director.
In addition, Morrison said, cracked asphalt on the deck and in the pool needs to be repaired. The pool also needs new skimmers and coping edge, and the concrete in the deep end needs to be sandblasted and repainted.
In order to fund these projects, city officials have applied for several grants. The goal is to get the filtration system in place in time to open June 20 and do the more time consuming projects such as asphalt at the end of the season, after more funds are raised.
Area businesses have decided to fundraise on their own in an effort to make sure the pool is able to open this year.
“It would be a travesty not to have the [pool] for the kids in our community,” said Ian Pratt, owner of Pratt Chevrolet in Calais. “It’s important that we all get together and help.”
As of this week, Pratt had begun a campaign to raise funds with a promise to match up to $10,000, dollar for dollar.
He started this week because he wanted to give Chuck and Belinda Lawrence, owners of the Tradewinds Shop N Save in Calais, opportunity to conclude their fundraising campaign without competition.
From March 20 through March 26, the Tradewinds Calais location raised “$15,595, give or take a penny or two,” Chuck Lawrence said Monday.
Tradewinds also promised to match, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, giving the pool a total of $25,595.
“That’s incredible,” said Lawrence. “I’m glad we could lead the charge on that.”
He said he is pleased Pratt also is raising funds. Fundraising efforts have “taken on a life of [their] own, and that’s what I hoped would happen.”
Machias Savings Bank has gotten in on the action, pledging $5,000 over five years for a total of $25,000.
“We’re happy to be able to help,” said Traci Sanborn, Machias Savings Bank senior vice president. The bank makes it a priority to donate to causes that benefit the community, and the pool does, she said.
The First National Bank also has donated $5,000, said Morrison.
“We are happy to support the efforts of restoring the pool, which is used by many children in the St. Croix area,” said Tony C. McKim, president and CEO of First National Bank.
“We’re getting a lot of donations,” said Morrison, adding that word has spread on Facebook about the needs of the pool, which annually gets about 8,000 visitors.
Baileyville Police Chief Robert Fitzsimmons and his criminal justice class at Washington County Community College held a “Tip A Cop (to be)” event March 24. Class members raised $2,793 for the pool by serving food at the Calais Motor Inn and allowing customers to tip them, said Morrison.
A basketball tournament set for April 23 and 24 also will benefit the pool, he said.
Morrison and Porter said they believe businesses and the community will have raised enough to install a new filtration system in time for the pool to open.
“We think we’re going to meet the goal,” said Porter.
If the fundraisers come close to their goal, the city may be able to make up the difference, he said.