I predict the number one topic of conversation at North Arlington Christmas parties this week will be, "Why hasn't construction started and why is the Board not fessing up that this isn't getting done before Spring?"  

Yeah, I got the email this morning.  Let's just say I'm working real hard to bite my virtual tongue.

There's been some prep work, silt fences and such.  I think the Board needs to think carefully about communication else the February meeting will get nasty and ultimately counter productive. Everything about putting together this reconstruction, from devising alternative plans to pursuing permits to hiring contractors has been a long and complicated process requiring lots of largely thankless volunteer time.  Stuff happens.  When stuff happens fess up.  For example. At the end of last regular season we were all told that the pool had to completely close. There could be no Fall extended season (where the lap pool stays open for several more weeks for lap swimming) because construction was to begin immediately. Then we find out (in October) that, oh by the way, we don't yet have a contractor and we don't have permits so construction won't start for a while.  In other words, it was known back in early September (and likely well earlier) by the Board that construction was delayed. Why were we not told? Why was extended season cancelled anyway? (Perhaps there were good reasons.)

Now let's think about the implications of the current plan, which basically says that if everything goes perfectly — and I mean perfectly — then the main pool and deck will be ready by Memorial day.  That's all the Board is saying. But there are loads of implications.  For starters there won't be a new clubhouse for a while and the entire site will be a construction zone well past completion of the new pool itself. What will this do to association social events and private events (e.g., birthday parties)? Presumably they are out for a while (the association events are part of what makes it a community).  What about early extended season?  Gone? Then, of course, there are the sports teams: synchronized swimming, diving, and swimming.  When can practices for these start?  What about hosting sporting events?  It'll be a construction zone with, presumably, limited space for a while. If the swim team can't host Monday night meets then it's possible that a huge percentage of the team will get little to no meet experience as it's already very difficult for Overlee to find other pools to host Monday night meets.

Then there's the little matter of the Board apparently deliberating on cancelling construction without consulting the general membership at all. That's going over real well.  

I don't doubt the members of the Board have thought about all the above issues quite a lot (at least I hope they have) and perhaps they have a lot of creative solutions for addressing the obstacles.  I think any reasonable person understands that this is all about some short-term pain for some real long-term gains. But, at the same time, the membership paid a large surcharge on top of already expensive dues and were given a number of promises about progress that have not proven true. All we've gotten in the form of communication are three patronizing emails that imply a lot but say very little.

I'd really hate to see Overlee get balled up with acrimony and, again, the Board and others involved with this donate hundreds of hours of time and, I think, do a great job in most areas. But trust is something very easily squandered.

I'll look for the Civic Association newsletter when I get home for the meeting date and time (I checked website http://leewayoverlee.org/, but its outdated.)  It's usually open for interested neighbors, I know friends from Highland Park/Overlee Knolls often attend.

Was there a meeting when the Board decided to move forward on the project?  I heard board meetings were open to members, but I can't ever find when its happening. I don't think families who had to pay an extra $1000 for the new pool would have agreed to a shorter season.  The old pool wasn't that bad and few people used the clubhouse anyway.  

We did major renovations on our house as well, everything gets delayed.  It's nobodies fault, its just what happens.  We had our basement flood and they had to repour some of the concrete walls.  I can't imagine pool walls are much different, not something to rush or skimp on.  Can they use concrete when its cold outside?

One Mom whose kids are on the dive team said that they weren't going to have a high dive.  Some of the dive families weren't too happy.  I don't know if i'd let my boys use a high dive, but I sure hope they have a slide like they used to (boys were really sad when that was taken down)

I agree that the Board has worked hard at a thankless job, but its not that hard to give updates to members if you want to. We used to be members at Arlington Forest and they have great updates on their blog http://afcbathhouse.tumblr.com/ Maybe Overlee should ask for some communications help and maybe if we can use their pool for swim meets

"Civic Association meeting is Tuesday, January 31, 2012 — 7:30pm, meeting room, Westover library, 1644 N McKinley Rd- Overlee Community Association renovations- Featured Speaker- Chris Tai,  Overlee renovation committee (refreshments provided)"  This is just the neighborhood meeting, not the pool meeting.  It also notes "Some members are doubtful that this can be done in time"  Boy is that an understatement, lol.  Last January, Overlee's president Patrick Shapiro gave an update on the new pool and clubhouse.  I'm sure much has changed since that meeting

Early Season Lap swimming usually starts end of April, if there just starting construction now, no way pool will be ready by then. Does anyone know if the yard pool will be opening on time even if the rest of the site is under construction?  (Its usually closed during Early Season anyway)

I'll be interested to see this year's budget and the yearly dues.  Delays in construction in the federal world mean cost overruns. And I don't see how this project would be any different.  I'm not paying extra for mismanagement of the project.  The Board and their architects should be watching costs like a hawk.  We don't need the Overlee Country Club, just a good, basic pool to enjoy!

Post edited 2:53 pm – February 9, 2012 by EdS1967

I recently ran into a current Overlee board member at the Harris Teeter on Lee Hwy.  From what I was told, it sounds as if construction is well under way, but that the project is unlikely to finish on schedule.  Though I think most of us thought this could happen, this board member made it sound like construction may not finish up until mid-summer.  What a nightmare!  Who would have voted for this if we knew it could negate half a summer season?

Additionally, she told me that this whole ordeal was going to create an issue with swim team parents.  She said they were trying to decide whether to cancel the season altogether or just have all the meets off-site.

EdS1967 said:

I recently ran into a current Overlee board member at the Harris Teeter on Lee Hwy.  From what I was told, it sounds as if construction is well under way, but that the project is unlikely to finish on schedule.  Though I think most of us thought this could happen, this board member made it sound like construction may not finish up until mid-summer.  What a nightmare!  Who would have voted for this if we knew it could negate half a summer season?

 

Additionally, she told me that this whole ordeal was going to create an issue with swim team parents.  She said they were trying to decide whether to cancel the season altogether or just have all the meets off-site.

You know, I heard the same thing (wonder if it was from the same Board member).  But I got the impression that there was almost no chance that the season would be canceled — this is Overlee after all.  And a season of five away meets really wouldn't be all that bad, given that just about all the teams in Division I are fairly close by.   

Frankly, I'm not that worried about the swim team, as my son will love competing wherever he is; my real concern is with general swim.  My wife loves taking our infant daughter to the pool in the afternoons in June before schools get out.  The thought of her not being able to do that really upsets me!

What- canceling the season.  Things must be worse off than I heard.  The newsletter didn't mention anything this drastic.  The pool website has some new pics, but not much work (old house is still standing.) overlee-pool.blogspot.com

I'm not paying my membership dues if the pool season is late.  We just had an assessment for $1000, what does that get us?  

Remember to support your local girl scouts by buying cookies!

just wait for the rain to fill in the big hole over there, it'll be Overlee Lake this summer