People swim and play at SEBCO Pool at Laura J. Doerr Memorial Park in 2022. Butler Eagle File Photo

JEFFERSON TWP — Township supervisors voted to put the planned renovation of SEBCO Pool back out to bid during their monthly meeting Monday night, Aug. 11.

At last month’s meeting, the board voted to reject the sole bid it had received for the project, which came in around $3.5 million — more than three times the amount the township budgeted for.

Plans for the pool’s renovation have been in the works since early 2022, with the township having acquired nearly $700,000 in grant funding from the state to be put solely toward the pool’s reconstruction.

The pool’s infrastructure is decades old, with the pool liner, pipes, heater and mechanical system in particular cited as in need of replacement or refurbishment.

Township manager Leo Rosenbauer said the township is in discussions with engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic to see what can be done with the project to attract more or less-expensive bids. This includes potentially eliminating some items from the project’s scope or changing the project’s time frame.

“They’re looking at it to see if anything could be eliminated or not eliminated,” Rosenbauer said.

The pool opened for the summer June 17, after the planned opening date was pushed back four times due to poor weather and equipment problems. According to the July edition of the Jefferson Township newsletter, the pool is set to close earlier than usual this year, on Monday, Aug. 18, instead of its usual closing time around Labor Day weekend.

The newsletter also states the township is hoping to commence the renovation project the following day.