Leechburg Area Pool needs a financial lifesaver

Leechburg Area Pool is in hot water.

Financial problems — including a missed loan payment of more than $13,000 — coupled with fewer family memberships and lower attendance are threatening the future of the 49-year-old pool.

A letter that the pool's board sent to its members says that the pool is at risk of foreclosure and going up for sheriff's sale. If that occurs, the pool won't reopen next summer, the letter says.

It hasn't paid a $13,400 annual loan payment that was due in July, said Nicole Fello, the board's treasurer and secretary.

On top of that, the pool owes vendors and utilities about $12,900, and the August payroll amounts to about $10,000.

It has about $2,000 in the bank, according to the letter.

"We're up against the wall in terms of our finances," Fello said. "We're owned by our membership. We're not owned by any government agency or county. We get no help from anybody. We're pretty much self-sustaining."

The 10-member pool board will hold a meeting open to the public on Sunday to discuss the situation, Fello said.

"We need to make everybody aware of where we are financially," she said. "We're hoping that people come forward and consider making a donation of some sort."

The pool owes $83,000 on the loan with First Commonwealth, Fello said. A bank spokeswoman had no immediate comment.

Although the pool's letter, dated Aug. 4, says it could go up for sheriff's sale in 30 days if the loan payment is not made, the next Armstrong County sheriff's sale is not until Oct. 22, according to the sheriff's office.

A complaint would have to be filed by Aug. 23 for that sale, and one had not been submitted as of Tuesday.

Franklin Roofner, the pool board's president, said another option could be to petition a municipality to assume responsibility for the pool. That could make the pool eligible for more grants.

But Roofner was skeptical municipal officials would be willing to assume the pool's debt. Other local pools, including the now defunct Freeport Area Community Pool, were unsuccessful in finding a government sponsor in the past.

Roofner said the small pool board has worked hard to host fundraisers, reduce the pool's taxes and seek help from local businesses. But during a tough economy in which most community groups also are reaching out for more donations, finding new funding sources and volunteers hasn't been easy.

"It's very disheartening," Roofner said.

Fello said some donations have already been coming in. Signs at the pool urge patrons to give and "save the pool."

A $2 donation gets the donor a paper frog with their name on it on a wall at the entrance.

The financial problems may force the pool to close before the Aug. 29 end of the season.

The closing date will be discussed at the Sunday meeting.

An annual family membership to the pool, called a maintenance fee, costs $275. Money from this fee, the pool's main source of revenue, is down $8,000, officials said.

Fello said only 96 families paid for memberships this year. Another 33 each paid a $25 "non-use" fee to keep their memberships current.

Lowered attendance this season despite the generally sunny, hot and often humid summer weather has also resulted in lower revenue from general admission fees to the pool and kitchen revenue, which are needed to meet operating costs.

The pool suffered damages and losses from a break-in by vandals in June, which township police are continuing to investigate.

It also has a sewage problem that needs to be fixed, Fello said.

Sunbathers react

The pool appeared reasonably busy Tuesday, but could not be said to be packed or crowded, especially in light of the hot and muggy weather -- coupled with a half-price $3 admission.

More than one pool patron said they'd be "devastated" if the pool were to shut down.

"I would never want it to close. I grew up here and I'm to the point I bring my kids," said Missy Sweeny, of Buffalo Township, who was with her two daughters. "They love it. It's so much fun."

Sweeny said her family came to the pool when she was growing up in Lower Burrell because it was "the nicest pool in the area."

The pool draws most of its members and visitors from Leechburg and Gilpin, along with some from Allegheny Township, New Kensington and Lower Burrell, Fello said.

Like all of those questioned yesterday, Sweeny said she doesn't have a membership to the pool. But she made a donation when she came in.

"This is our favorite pool," she said.

Mary Corman of Ford City said the pool "is her favorite place to go" and that she's there four days a week "because of the atmosphere."

"The people are always so friendly," she said. "Everyone in here is like family. Everyone talks to one another."

Newly moved from Washington state to Springdale, Jasper Blair said it would be a "bummer" if the pool closed. He was at the pool for only the third time with a friend's son.

"It's kind of nice, especially today because it's half-price," he said, taking note of other amenities nearby such as a volleyball court. "It's a nice little area."

Lou Fondrk of Gilpin came to the pool when he was a boy. He brought his children there. Yesterday, he was there with his two granddaughters from Latrobe for the first time this season.

Fondrk, who said his wife works as a cashier at the pool, said he knew it was hurting, but didn't know how bad it had gotten. He suggested some kind of fundraiser.

Having grown up in Leechburg, Fello said she's emotional about the pool.

She can't fathom seeing the pool closed and overcome by weeds.

"It really is a place for the kids to go and be safe and do something that's healthy," she said. "Without it, they won't really have much."

Staff writer Liz Hayes contributed to this report.

Additional Information:

Coming up

Who: Leechburg Area Pool

What: Meeting to discuss the pool's financial situation

When: 6 p.m. Sunday

Where: Leechburg Area Pool, 167 Park Road, Gilpin