By Lauren Waters
Correspondent
ALLOUEZ – At the Allouez village board meeting Tuesday, Oct. 1, the board revisited whether or not to allow a homeowner to have an automatic safety cover over a swimming pool in lieu of a fence.
This discussion was continued from the village board meeting on Aug. 20, where the board heard a statement from Allouez resident Joe Kiedinger, to which the board decided it needed to gather more information on the subject.
During the Oct. 1 meeting, Allouez Building Inspector Kevin Wieland said staff recommended to not amend the pool safety ordinance to allow pool safety covers, upon further review.
Wieland brought some concerns to the board’s attention, including how long the cover fabric lasts and if the homeowner will repair the cover in a timely manner, as well as how to enforce the fact the cover must be closed when the owner is not present.
Per the August request, Wieland said he contacted Joe Gabe with the fire marshal’s office regarding previous pool drowning issues in the Green Bay area, and he was told there weren’t any that pertained to a lack of fence at a homeowner’s property.
He also said he contacted the homeowner’s insurance company, which stated it would insure the pool cover if the homeowner complied with the following items: evidence of purchase, verification of a certified installer, a maintenance agreement in place, photos of closed pool once cover is installed and confirmation from homeowner the cover will be closed when pool is not in use.
Discussion then continued amongst the board regarding whether or not to amend the ordinance.
Trustee Jim Genrich said he was in favor of amending the pool safety ordinance to allow automatic safety covers based on the new technology and the case the homeowner presented at the Aug. 20 meeting.
Trustee Penny Dart said she still was opposed to the change in ordinance.
President Jim Rafter weighed in regarding his thoughts on liability and safety.
“The village isn’t liable for this, the property owner maintains liability,” said Rafter. “And I really like the idea that the insurance company said the homeowner has to maintain a maintenance contract with the vendor, because that would go a long way toward any repairs being done in a timely fashion.”
Rafter also said technology has come a long way, and he personally thought the allowance of an automatic pool safety cover was a reasonable request.
The Allouez attorney stated he had an amendment for the pool safety ordinance already prepared per the previous meeting’s discussion.
The motion was then brought up whether or not to take a vote on this amended ordinance at the following board meeting.
The motion passed 4 to 2.
Trustee Matthew Harris and Trustee Dart opposed the motion.
The amendment of the pool safety ordinance to include automatic pool covers is set to be voted on at the Oct. 15 board meeting.