With completion of an engineering study of the closed Carole Ann Wald Pool in St. Edward State Park, the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission has indicated a willingness to seek out a new operator for the facility.

That’s the word from Kenmore Mayor David Baker and City Manager Frederick Stouder.

During a City Council meeting Sept. 20, Stouder said commission Director Rex Derr had set no schedule for sending out a request for proposals — basically, a call for operating plans from potential pool managers.

Stouder added Derr had not made any decision on whether or not any new operator would be responsible for the Wald pool alone or the pool in combination with the gymnasium in the St. Edward Seminary.

Derr could not be reached for comment. The pool and gym have been closed since last year after the previous two operators walked away claiming excessive financial losses.

“We’ve done what we said we were going to do,” said Councilman Glenn Rogers, referring to completion of the engineering study of the state-owned pool.

His comment seemed to reflect the thinking of a majority of councilmembers who indicated that, essentially, the next move is up to the parks commission.

Rogers added that Kenmore spent $35,000 on the engineering study and he doesn’t see the city doing much more until the state takes some kind of action.

“We can imagine something happening there,” said Geoff Anderson, a principal engineer for consultants ORB Architects, which completed the engineering study. Anderson’s comment was in reference to the possibility of the pool being reopened.

But Anderson also added some repairs would have to occur prior to that happening. He further contends the pool will need continued financial subsidies from Kenmore and other entities who had contributed to the pool’s operation in the past. Anderson said no box pool such as the Wald facility has been able to sustain itself financially without some outside aid.

ORB released an initial report on the condition of the pool and gym in July. At that point, ORB officials estimated roughly $919,00 was needed to fix immediate problems at the pool and potentially keep it open for five years.

After that first study, city council authorized further work by ORB, primarily to track down a water leak. Anderson said that work isn’t quite finished, but the company apparently felt comfortable giving some revised recommendations.

According to the revamped report, the pool needs $416,803 in immediate attention. Anderson said the main difference was that ORB dropped a recommendation for extensive insulation of the pool building. While the idea was to save on heating costs, Anderson said the work probably would prove impractical.

Longer term improvements to the pool might cost as much as $1.7 million. ORB also recommends about $68,000 in immediate repairs to the seminary gymnasium, with an additional $239,000 investment needed in the long run.

Regarding the pool, immediate needs number about 13, according to ORB. The suggestions range from providing an insulated pool cover to replacing fire-alarm equipment. The study also mentions upgrading shower rooms with code-required floor drains and replacing water damaged ceiling tiles, removing any mold that might be present.

While a final determination regarding water leakage has yet to appear, the report assumes the pool is losing about 7,200 gallons a day, possibly costing the facility up to $16,200 annually.

Stouder said he had forwarded to Derr and the state a copy of the finalized ORB study. At council’s direction, Stouder also will send an additional letter asking the state to take several steps, including protecting the pool until an operator is found and adding the gym into any request for operating proposals.

Just how far the state is willing to go might be debatable. On several occasions, Derr has made the point that his commission is not willing to spend any further money on the pool. Baker said he had been in contact with State Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, in an attempt to drum up support for the pool among officials in Olympia.

While he backed asking the state to act, Councilman John Hendrickson said the city should take care not to squander any momentum created by the engineering study.

“I think we need to embrace this as a community effort,” he said, arguing that simply dropping the issue in the lap of the state probably wouldn’t accomplish much.