Regents to vote on MPE pool renovation

December 1, 2008 by Gregan Wingert 

Renewal of 34-year-old natatorium to cost $5.5 million

 

The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents is scheduled to meet this week to discuss several agenda items, one of which calls for the approval of $5.5 million to fund the renovation of UNLV’s McDermott Physical Education facility swimming pool.

In light of tough economic times, the Board will have to make some tough decisions when it comes to new expenses.

“I think with budget cuts and everything else it’ll be looked at with a lot of scrutiny,” Regent James Dean Levitt said.

“The timing makes it tough,” said Levitt, adding that it’s especially difficult at a time when the Board is looking at a possible 25 percent tuition increase for all of Nevada’s higher education institutions.

“Under the present circumstances I’ll look at it very skeptically,” Regent Ron Knecht said. “You really have to wonder if it’s something we can defer.”

However, postponing the project could lead to some serious problems according to UNLV officials.

“I’m not happy about bringing it forward,” said Gerry Bomotti, vice president for business and finance.

“We run the high risk of catastrophic failure,” Bomotti said.

Not replacing the 34-year-old aluminum pool could lead to damages to MPE and will eventually render the pool useless, Bomotti explained.

Over the years the aluminum lining of the pool reacted with the soil causing significant damage to the pool.

Half the costs will come from athletics, which is not state revenue, Bomotti said. The other 50 percent will come from the capital improvement fee, which is a student fee fund dedicated to developing the campus.

“We’ve been very conservative with this fund,” said Bomotti, adding that UNLV has held back on upgrades around campus to brace itself for the pool’s replacement and the possible 14 percent budget cut.

The pool has undergone previous short-term fixes that have extended its usability, but it’s clear the pool needs fixing.

“We knew about a year and a half ago that we may not find an inexpensive, short-term fix,” Bomotti said.

“It’s passed its shelf life,” said Lisa Kelleher, associate athletic director.  ”It’s on its last legs.”

Kelleher recognizes UNLV’s financial situation, but believes that spending the money now is for the best.

“I think what everybody has to look at is the long term,” Kelleher said.

The MPE pool is one of two pools on campus. Being the only pool suitable for competition, it is used by UNLV’s men’s and women’s swim teams, and classes are held there as well.

Chris Stachewicz, aquatics coordinator for the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and former MPE aquatics coordinator, also believes the money needs to be spent to replace the MPE pool.

“There’s a lot of money being wasted on that pool and they need to repair it,” Stachewicz said.

The swim teams have asked to practice in the SRWC pool while repairs are being made. The swim team can’t use the SRWC pool during the season because it’s a recreational pool and isn’t big enough.

“The MPE pool is 50 meters and the SRWC pool is only 25 yards,” Stachewicz said. “[The SRWC] pool is not built for competition.”

The idea of building a competitive pool inside the SRWC had been presented but never adopted.

It was going to be a student pool rather than a student athlete pool, Kelleher said.

The MPE pool may mean the most to UNLV’s successful swim teams.

The men’s swim team won the Mountain West Conference for the past four years and the women’s team placed in the conference in the past years.

“I feel like if we want to improve as a team we need this to happen,” said Bailey Kuestermeyer, a captain for the women’s team. “It’s time to get a new one.”

Without the pool the swim teams may not have to worry about improving, but rather existing at all.

“If we’re to continue a swim program we’re going to need this pool, period,” said Jim Reitz coach of men’s and women’s swimming.