PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s on a grant to help reopen Sequim’s shuttered pool.
The three commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a $731,705 agreement with Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1, which will use the Opportunity Fund money to replace an air handling unit to reopen the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center under the management of the Olympic Peninsula YMCA this fall.
The unanimous board vote was merely a formality. Commissioners had approved the expenditure after hearing overwhelming public support for the grant in a March 29 hearing.
After that hearing, commissioners directed County Administrator Jim Jones to prepare the agreement, which was signed without board discussion Tuesday.
A new air handler is needed to maintain air quality, humidity and a safe balance of chemicals in the natatorium, or pool area, SARC officials have said.
SARC will be the landlord for the pool and athletic center that will reopen as the Sequim YMCA.
Sequim-area swimmers, including members of the Sequim High School swim teams, have been commuting to William Shore Memorial Pool in Port Angeles since SARC closed its doors Oct. 30.
The expenditure to replace the air handler was endorsed by members of the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board.
The Opportunity Fund is a portion of state sales tax that supports public infrastructure in rural areas.
In other board action Tuesday, commissioners opened bids from two local contractors for an annual supply of crushed rock.
The selected contractor will provide about 19,000 tons of material to the Clallam County Road Department for annual road maintenance.
Bruch & Bruch Construction of Port Angeles’ base bid was $464,738. DelHur Industries of Port Angeles bid $466,012 for the crushed rock supply.
Commissioners referred the bids to the road department for a review and recommendation back to the board.
Two other Port Angeles contractors bid on a structural improvement project at the Clallam County Fairgrounds.
Aldergrove Construction bid $154,658 and Hoch Construction bid $166,787 for needed improvements for the floral barn.
The bids were sent to the county Parks, Fair and Facilities Department for a review and recommendation.
In other county facilities news, commissioners awarded a $13,646 contract to McCrorie Carpet One of Port Angeles to replace the carpet in the Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
