Bathhouse needs new roof, official says

The bathhouse at the pool is 66 years old.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The roof at the North Pool bathhouse desperately needs to be replaced, with water pouring into the building's interior whenever it rains, said the city park director.
City council will consider a request today to waive formal bid requirements and enter into an agreement to have the roof replaced. If council approves the proposal, the work would begin shortly, said Park Director Joseph R. McRae.
The city park department asked six companies to submit bids for the work. Three of the companies turned in proposals, and Kreidler Construction Co. in North Lima submitted the apparent low bid of about $81,000, McRae said.
"We don't know how long the roof will last," he said.
A recent inspection by ES & amp;C International, a Youngstown company, determined the roof needs immediate replacement. The leaks are causing damage to the building's interior, McRae said.
Potential harm
The roof, if not replaced immediately, could lead to serious damage to the bathhouse's lighting, and there is some structural damage to the building's walls and brick veneer, according to the proposed council ordinance.
"We hope the roof doesn't cave in," McRae said. "It's best to do the replacement now to avoid further problems."
The bathhouse was built in 1939 and the roof is the original one although improvements were made to it over the years, he said.
"The damage is quite noticeable," McRae said. "We saw it during the summer and crossed our fingers that it would hold up. But with the rain we've had recently, it's leaked more. Also, with winter coming, we're concerned about further damage."
The bathhouse includes locker rooms, restrooms and a ticket booth, and is used to store equipment.
The North Pool on Tod Lane is one of two city-run pools in Youngstown. The other is Borts Pool on the city's West Side on Belle Vista Avenue.
skolnick@vindy.com