A Dauphin County firm has been hired to do an assessment and feasibility study on the Lansford Pool.

Aquatic Facility Design of Millersburg was hired at a quoted price of $14,000 to, among other things, assess the existing conditions at the pool complex, detail specific deficiencies of the pool, provide conceptual design plan and suggestions for improvements and renovations, and detail probable construction costs for capital improvements and renovation options.A less detailed feasibility study done in May indicated the pool would cost about $800,000 to repair.Approval to hire Aquatic Facility Design, which was the firm that provided engineering services on the renovation of the Lehighton Municipal Swimming Pool several years ago, was via a 5-2 vote.In favor were council members Rose Mary Cannon, Joe Butrie, Jared Soto, Colin Jones and John Turcmanovich. Opposed were council President Martin Ditsky and Matthew Walsh.Cannon said there is $7,000 in an account which could be applied to the feasibility study. The council voted 4-3 to use these funds. Opposed were Ditsky, Walsh and Butrie.Several members of the Friends of the Lansford Pool, a community group formed to raise funds to save the pool, were in attendance at the meeting.Also in attendance was Pat Whalen of West Ridge Street who indicated she was opposed to the pool project.Whalen asked, "Is the public going to have to pay for the pool that most residents don't want?"Cannon responded, "We are looking at grants and there are lots of people that use the pool."A woman in the audience who worked at the pool said in response to allegations that young children are left unattended by parents, that anyone under age 11 must be accompanied by an adult.The woman added, "Everyone pays to go to that pool. It's not a free-for-all. It's a membership."Cannon said, "We are working very diligently to get grants."The pool was closed this summer after it was learned a major leak was occurring. It was reported that in 2015, millions of gallons of water had leaked from the pool.One other thing in the feasibility study is that Aquatic Facility Design will work with the community to evaluate its rationale for continuing to provide a public swimming pool.