Hebron holds open house Wednesday on proposed swimming pool

HEBRON - Hebron city officials opened up the town's Activity Center to the general public Wednesday for an open house regarding the proposal of a new city pool.

The event ran from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Several pool committee members and representatives from JEO Consulting, Inc. were on hand to answer any questions from the public.

Hebron's current pool will turn 90 years old in 2020, making it one of the oldest original swimming pools in the state. It has a variety of maintenance issues. So bad, in fact, it's estimated the pool loses around 20,000 gallons of water a day. The bath house is also not compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.

It's also estimated that the pump has never been changed, and there's inadequate filtration due to deteriorating infrastructure. 

A citizen survey last year shows that the majority of Hebron's citizens are in favor of building a new pool at its current location in Riverside Park on the south end of town.

Hebron city council and pool committee member Rita Luongo helped organize Wednesday's open house. She says it's important that Hebron keep up with neighboring cities when it comes to activities and things to do.

"People go out of town to use their pools," Luongo said. "They also shop and everything when they're there. So, we hope we can keep people here and also attract young families. We want them to come here, and not lose them to surrounding communities due to the fact that they have more recreational activities."

Ballots will be mailed out to Hebron residents sometime before Thanksgiving. On the ballot, people will be asked if they want to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a $3.5 million bond. $1 million of that bond would be paid off with a half-percent sales tax increase.

The ballots are due back to city hall by Dec. 10.

Officials say there are grants the city can apply for to help alleviate some expense. The city will soon decide if they want to keep the old pool open in the summer of 2020, or just shut down next summer and have the new pool open by 2021.