Stock tank pools temporarily OK’d
Staff writer
Hillsboro residents, denied access to the community swimming pool this summer because of COVID-19, at least will be able to fill stock tanks in their yards for swimming fun.
City administrator Larry Paine, at his last meeting before retirement, said that while building codes require any pool taller than 24 inches to be permanently installed, he wanted council members to temporarily amend city codes so children could have some access to water play.
“People are putting stock tanks in their yard for the kids to play in,” Paine said.
Paine said he used to urge city employees to “do the right thing.”
“In this case, I think this is the right thing,” Paine said.
He recommended that council members revisit the matter late this year and reinstate the rule that pools must be permanently mounted and fenced in. If a stock tank pool is not fenced in, a hole can be drilled in the side to prevent water from being more than 24 inches deep.
The idea passed on a 3-2 vote, with council members Renee Gehring, who asked at the last meeting to reopen the swimming pool, and Byron McCarty voting against, and David Loewen, Brent Driggers, and mayor Lou Thurston voting in favor.