NEW BREMEN – The bill to repair the municipal pool is in, and at Monday night’s New Bremen Council meeting, the members decided how to proceed.

Village Administrator Brent Richter said Astro Pools had estimated that the cost to repair the multiple leaks at the municipal pool would be $98,000. Council agreed to put out requests this week for other bids to repair the pool. If no better bids are offered, Council agreed to proceed with the repair work with Astro.

The pool had lost almost a million gallons of water over the past summer. Inspection of the pool revealed that several pipes leading to and from the pool had developed leaks that allowed the water to escape all season. Richter said the pool, which was built in the late 1990’s, had schedule 40 pipe, which was the standard at the time. Current standards require the use of schedule 80 piping. Work will involve the replacement of all the pipes around the pool and since the drain pipe under the pool is also leaking, a section of the bottom of the pool will also be excavated. The estimate from Astro does not include replacement of gravel and concrete. If the bid is awarded to Astro, they expect the work will begin in mid-March.

In other action, council agreed to put on hold ditch work at the Bunker Hill Industrial Park until a buyer is found. Council did approve the first reading of an ordinance that allows work with ODOT to coordinate future bridge and culvert repair around Koop Ditch along St. Rt. 274.

President Jacob Larger reported that monthly revenue for the village amounted to $1,524,587.89. Expenses totaled $1,122,603.68.

After an executive session, Council agreed to extend the 10 possible days of COVID leave time until mid-March. The CARES act, which originally paid for the funding, was discontinued Dec. 31, 2020.

Council also agreed to hold a special budget meeting Saturday, February 6 at 8 am to determine the amount of appropriations that will be requested for the Village budget.