Pump part problem temporarily solved at municipal pool

At 4 p.m. Thursday, the Fort Scott Municipal Swimming Pool reopens to the public. After the pump that maintains proper chlorine levels quit working Sunday night, the city had to close the pool until a new part could be found and put into place. Workers were able to get the pump working again temporarily until the new part arrives on Tuesday and put into place. Tribune photo/Rayma Silvers

Sunday evening, July 29, Fort Scott Director of Human Resources Bob Johnson was notified of an equipment malfunction at the Fort Scott Municipal Pool. Exhaustive efforts to correct the problem failed.

Johnson said the pump that circulates the pool's water through the chlorine base, which helps the pool maintain the proper chlorine levels quit operating properly. The only way to correct the problem was to order a new part for the pump. Unfortunately, the new part has been difficult to locate.

Originally, Johnson had thought a new part would arrive early Thursday morning; however, due to incorrect information provided by the Chicago company, he later found out that the part originally ordered was the incorrect part and would not work in the city's pool pump.

Johnson said he has called several surrounding cities, inquiring as to whether they had an extra of the part needed to get the pool up and running again, but his efforts were to no avail.

In the most recent development, a new part has been located and is expected to arrive on Tuesday. In the meantime, workers have been able to improvise the piece and are confident that the pool will be able to maintain operation until the new part arrives on Tuesday.