DECATUR — The Decatur City Swimming Pool will probably remain closed this summer because the city cannot afford a handicapped chair lift required by new federal regulations.

Updated Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, signed into effect in September 2010, require that all public pools and hot tubs have handicapped chair lifts in place by March 15, 2012.

Mayor Charles Linam said he spoke to Bob Moore from Burton Pools and Spa and found a portable lift would cost $7,000 delivered and set-up. Linam said the city could buy the company’s demonstration model with a discount of $550, with all the guarantees of a brand new machine. The city would also have to pay the cost of building a shed to house the machine and widening the sidewalk and entrance gate to the pool to accommodate wheelchairs.

The costs for making the pool handicapped accessible would be on top of usual losses, which Linam estimated would be a minimum of $5,000 if operating costs could be reduced from previous years.

Councilman James Jessen suggested looking into grants to help keep the pool open. Linam explained that he was concerned the city is not really eligible for more grants until it gets the fire station addition grant wrapped up.

Councilwoman Gina Holt said she was not comfortable with the extra expense, considering how tight the budget is this year.

“I don’t think it’s that we don’t want to (open the pool) I think it’s that we can’t,” Jessen said.

On Monday, Linam and city administrative assistant Kim Wilkins were researching available grants and the possibility of fundraisers to help cover costs of opening the pool.

News, Pages 12 on 02/22/2012