A reconstruction schedule for reopening the Falls High School swimming pool includes a tentative timeframe running through late October, but Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson said that doesn’t necessary mean the Bronco girls swimming and diving meet won’t be able to host a home meet this season.

Nelson said the schedule, which lists the final steps of heating and chemical balancing of the pool water taking place from Oct. 20-24, is “kind of a rough picture” and takes into account the “most extreme” situation for how long the reconstruction work could take.

He said he hopes the pool could be reopened sooner, perhaps in the second or third week in October so that the girls team could still host a meet this season.

The Broncos initially had seven home varsity meets on their schedule. However, with the FHS swimming pool unavailable, two of those meets have already been held in the opponents’ pools.

Falls girls swimming and diving head coach Jill Herzig said the remaining home meets on the Broncos’ schedule would be moved to the opponents’ pools in the event the FHS swimming pool is not available on the dates those meets are scheduled.  

The final home meet on the schedule is set for Oct. 25 against Mesabi East. 

The FHS swimming pool underwent a $198,000 renovation project between March and June of this year to deepen the end where the starting blocks are located to 5 feet. 

Prior to the renovation work, the entire pool had been 3-1/2 feet deep and unable to host a meet with starting blocks because of a new rule on pool depth implemented by the National Federation of State High School Associations requiring a minimum of 4 feet.

The pool reopened July 9, but then closed a few days later because of a problem with tiles coming off the bottom. It has remained closed with the water drained and tiles removed.

A preliminary report put together by the engineering firm Encompass, which investigated the pool tile problem, has concluded a combination of porous grout joints, an incomplete thinset adhesive application and acid-based cleaners caused the tiles to come off the bottom.

Nelson said the renovation project’s general contractor will be responsible for fixing up the pool at no additional cost to the school district.

In addition to not being able to host a home meet so far this season, the tile problem has also left the Broncos without a full-length pool to practice in. 

The girls team has used the adjacent diving well for lap swimming and also began this week to start practicing twice a week in Canada at the Memorial Sports Centre pool in Fort Frances.

“It has been very challenging to get quality practices in,” Herzig said.

She noted the team practiced this week early in the evening to be able to use the Memorial Sports Centre pool when it was available. 

With the FHS swimming pool closed, Herzig said the Falls is now practicing Tuesdays and Fridays in its diving well and Mondays and Wednesdays in Fort Frances.

 

 

Pool Reconstruction Schedule 

 

This schedule is set in number of work days in lieu of actual calendar dates. 

 

Sept. 14-21 

Staging and dust protection set up.  

Removal of existing thin set floor cleaning and preparation.                     

 

Sept. 24  

Neutralizing wash of concrete slab. 

 

Sept. 25 – 27  

Layout and Installation of race lanes and belly bands.     

 

Sept. 28 – Oct. 5 

Installation of field tile.       

 

Oct. 8- 10 

Installation of grout. 

 

Oct. 11-15  

Grout cure time and facility/building clean-up.     

 

Oct. 16 

Cleaning of pool shell and acid wash. 

 

Oct. 17-19 

Pool filling. 

 

Oct. 20 - 24  

Heating and chemical balancing of pool water.