Rec-Plex closes pool; mayor contacts President Bush
December 21, 2008
St. Peters
The St. Peters Rec-Plex swimming pool closed at midnight on Dec. 19. Federal regulations under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pools and Spa Safety Act required the installation of pool drain covers which meet new federal specifications.
Complying with this regulation has eluded St. Peters staff. They say that despite their best efforts, there is currently no equipment available for purchase that allows the Rec-Plex pool to meet the new requirements.
St. Peters staff says that the equipment simply does not exist that would allow retrofitting the Rec-Plex pools.
The new requirements affect hundreds of thousands of municipal and recreational pools nationwide, including Disney World.
St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano sent letters on Friday to President Bush and Missouri’s Congressional delegation, asking for intervention and a suspension of the new federal requirements for one year.
During the past year, pool officials, trade organizations and engineering experts have been working to develop solutions that would fulfill the new requirement. They have also been asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to fulfill the requirements.
Eight local high schools as well as Lindenwood University use the Rec-Plex pools for training and competitions.
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town