Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Road Ahead... for Sam Ketchum Pool
Video above is from this past Friday's Press Conference, courtesy of Got News Network, Inc
Read press release from City of Williams Lake issued this past Friday here
This past Friday - Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook along with the City's General Manager of Planning & Operations (G. Goodall), Director of Municipal Services (K. Goldfuss) Director of Community Services (G. Paynton) and the Communications Coordinator (K. MacInnis) held a press conference with media to discuss the prelim. findings of the investigation of the 'chlorine incident' that occured at the Sam Ketcham Pool last Sunday
Questions asked by local & provincial media/Dale Taylor (President of WL Blue Fins Club) included: (City Staff or Mayor Cook responses in bold)
a) When will the pool re-open? No way to know at this time...
b) Why can't there be an apology to the WL Blue Fins Club from the City of Williams Lake?
c) Why wasn't the WL Blue Fins Club asked for input....?
d) Why not engage the adults on the pool deck at the time to assist the evacuation (last Sunday)?
e) Possible 'orange' liquid observed? Note - Geoff Paynton clarified that what came out, in refilling the 'wading pool' was "highly chlorinated water" which would have a 'green tinge' to it
f) Could pool filling procedures be changed to prevent something like Sunday from occuring in the future?
g) When will the final report of last Sunday's event at CMRC be released and will be released to the public? No date on final report release but Geoff Goodall clarified that parts of the final report may have to be 'blacked out' for privacy reason but the bulk of the report will be released to the public when available
h) How many staff were on site during last Sunday's incident? 2 Lifeguards & 2 Facility people
i) What year did the Sam Ketchum Pool last receive renovations? 2006
j) How long will the Pool be shutdown? - Staff clarified it easily could be weeks or into a month
k) Next political steps? Report would go to Joint Committee for them to decide on 'next steps'
l) Clarification that last Sunday's incident was not 'due to human error'? Mayor Cook confirmed that the incident last Sunday was not due to human error
m) Does City anticipate any legal action as result of last Sunday's event at CMRC - City has no official comment
n) Revenue loss? Staff layoffs - City does not have a figure yet... but is forthcoming & because of Pool shutdown, pool staff hours will have to be adjusted accordingly. Mayor Cook also praised Staff for their handling of last Sunday's 'Chlorine Incident' at CMRC
So - where to go from here....
The final report of the Feb 26th 'Chlorine Incident' is released to the public (no date on this yet) & when the Sam Ketchum Pool re-opening receives "OK's" from Interior Health/WorkSafe BC - a staff report will then go forward to the Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee (Joint Committee comprised of CRD Directors for Areas D, E and F plus all of Williams Lake City Council) for either its' March 28th or its' April 25th meeting or perhaps a Special Joint Committee Meeting would be called given time sensitivity on this item, again depending on when that Staff report to Joint Committee is ready to go to Joint Committee for its' consideration
The Staff report, hypothetically speaking, would contain the following three parts (my opinion):
a) Review of what occurred from Feb 26th - present
b) Loss of Revenue from Feb 26th - present and 2012 Budget implications (Note - when the Sam Ketchum Pool was shutdown for repairs between June 30th, 2011 to August 15th, 2011 (6 weeks) - City Staff indicated that $98,500 was lost in revenue over those six weeks when everything was factored in (money spent/money saved)
c) Options for 'disinfection system' -- Maintain Present System or look at new system and what are budget implications? For example, the City of Quesnel uses a 'granular chlorine puck-type' system to disinfect its' pool water - read here
Finally - I think one question that the Joint Committee will likely ask is how does the possible replacement of the disinfection system for the Sam Ketchum Pool relate to the other on-going process of the possible replacement of the Sam Ketchum Pool?
When that report is placed before the Central Cariboo Joint Committee -- I'll be sure to put the report up here, so can read that report for yourself, along with the date/time/place where Joint Committee is meeting to consider the report so you can observe for yourself what our political leaders are deciding to ensure the safe operation of our local pool
SBF
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3 comments:
Is it me or does Geoff Payton come across as arrogant and dismissive? I actually find I get that feeling alot when I hear him talk to people.
Also if this conference was deemed important enough to have the Mayor there and as we are to contact the CAO if we have questions about the pool incident why was he not at this press conference? I like the blooger before am getting so confused as to how the WL City structure works. Seems confusing and disjointed.
I wish staff all the luck in resolving the issue..the pool is a vital recreation to the community. and I look forward to seeing it open again.
In the few dealings I've had with him I found him to be very to the point, and that he deals with the business at hand and doesn't get into speculation or information that is not relevant. I've always found him to be very professional.
I personally appreciate that very much, although some people prefer someone who will add a bit more "flower" to the conversation.
I find it ironic no one is willing to talk to the Prince George Quesnel or Williams Lake families whom were here to witness this first hand. Who saw the 'yellow' stuff pouring into the empty pool choking everyone out! Dropping people like crazy kids puking, coughing, choking, crying, panicking, and trust me NO worker noticed this first! it was those sitting right next to the empty pool filling with 'yellow' liquid. the guards has no idea what was going on! Not one whistle blew, if it weren't for the quick thinking of parents-coaches helping get kids out it could have been a lot worse! Once guards realized ther was a problem yes the kicked into high gear but i promise it was not like what they have reported! They weren't there.... interview the parents, coaches, swimmers! some of these kids are messed up! They need to get off their butts and realize this has messed up someones kid's lives! this wasn't minor, it was a major fault that happened, we all understand but what is being done to ensure this will never happen again! What is being done to help these kids/adults cope with this trauma they have so suddenly encountered! What about those that are still sick, who have chemical burns to their faces/bodies, brittle hair, asthma like symptoms, extreme cold like symptoms, some can't smell, things they've had to replace!!! NOT even an appology!!! This is terrible way for a city to represent the community in such a manner of where people travel and spend money coming to the city of Williams Lake all to have it even an appology!!!! Shame on you all!!!! Thank goodness for the amazing emergency response teams and the Williams Lake Hospital and it staff.... they were amazing !!! However the city of Williams Lake Mayor and Staff shame on you all!!!
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