Brownwood Council Delays Wiggins Pool Repair Decision as Leak Questions Remain

The Brownwood City Council postponed a decision Tuesday on whether to spend $38,000 from reserve funds to repair leaks at Wiggins Pool, asking for more information before committing to work by Landmark Aquatic.

During a roughly 20-minute discussion, council members questioned whether the proposed repairs would solve the pool’s problems or lead to another major expense next year. The matter is expected to return at a future council meeting.

Pool has been losing water throughout the season

City staff began noticing water loss each morning at the start of the 2026 pool season. Water has been added daily to keep the pool at the necessary level.

Landmark Aquatic performed leak detection in May and identified several potential sources: the main drain line, cracks in the plaster, skimmer throats and cracked skimmer housings. The city also obtained a second opinion from Sunbelt Pool, which validated Landmark’s proposed scope of work and pricing.

The city had already conducted leak detection before the 2025 pool season and completed temporary repairs. In 2022, the council approved Wiggins Pool renovations costing just under $185,000.

Council weighs repair, closure and replacement

Ward 4 Council Member Draco Miller Jr. questioned whether the city should spend nearly $40,000 without assurance that the pool would remain leak-free.

“Is the juice worth the squeeze? Are we throwing good money after bad? Is it time to re-evaluate and look in a different direction?”

Miller said his concern was not simply the proposed $38,000 price, but whether the work would fix the problem or leave the city facing the same issue a year later. He emphasized that he was not proposing that Wiggins Pool be shut down, but wanted the city to examine other options and consult additional businesses about a complete repair.

Mayor Stephen Haynes said the city was unlikely to find a less expensive solution. He described the alternatives as spending more money or closing and filling in the pool.

“The problem is you’re not going to find a cheaper fix. So you either shut it down, close it and fill it in, or you spend more money.”

Haynes said the 2022 project involved extensive resurfacing, which had not been done in a decade or more, while most of the current problems appeared to be new issues based on the information presented to the council.

Ward 5 Council Member Walker Willey said constructing a new pool had been estimated at an “astronomical” cost in 2022. He said the city was in a difficult position but did not want to see Wiggins Pool close because it receives significant use.

More detailed leak report requested

Brownwood Parks and Recreation Director Roland Soto told the council he had asked Landmark Aquatic for a complete leak-detection test. The requested report is intended to show whether one part of the pool is worse than the others or whether the city is dealing with continuing problems involving the skimmers or main drain line.

Soto said the additional information could help staff prioritize repairs and identify possible savings. He expected to receive it by the end of the week.

Miller asked whether the city could wait for the report before proceeding. Soto replied that the work would need to be scheduled during the current year if the city decides to move forward, because the 2022 repair work extended to the beginning of pool season and may have contributed to a late opening.

Soto said the repair effort could be extensive if the city wants to fully address the leak problem. The council is expected to revisit the funding request after receiving the additional information.

Other Brownwood council actions

The council also approved a $38,800 proposal from AAR Inc. of Liberty Hill for asbestos remediation at the Bennie Houston Recreation Center, 505 Cordell Street. Including consulting, air monitoring and state permit fees, the total authorized cost is $51,680.20.

North American Analytical Labs of Abilene solicited three quotes for the project because its estimated cost was below the $100,000 threshold. AAR Inc. was recommended as the lowest bidder. NAAL’s consulting and air-monitoring work will cost $11,371.20, with a $1,509 state user tax fee.

Other approved actions included purchasing one-ton liquid chlorine and sulfur dioxide cylinders from PVS DX Inc. of Sweetwater for the wastewater treatment plant; awarding the 2026-27 landfill brush-grinding contract to GWG Wood Group of Ferris for $106,368; and beginning the request-for-proposals process for a professional services contractor for the city’s Texas General Land Office Community Development and Revitalization—MIT Resilient Communities Program grant.

The council also accepted a Brownwood Industrial Foundation petition to set a public hearing on annexing approximately 20 acres near Brownwood Regional Airport into the city limits. Items from the Bennie Houston Recreation Center were declared surplus for donation to Revitalizing Our Community.

Appointments were approved for the Corrine T. Smith Animal Shelter Board, Brownwood Municipal Development District Board, Brownwood Housing Authority Board, Library Board and Planning and Zoning Commission.

On the consent agenda, the council approved final zoning changes for 3206 Highway 377 South, CC Woodson Road and 2305 Coggin Avenue. Each property was changed to the C-1 Local Business District from its previous classification. The council also approved a negotiated settlement involving Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division, and its 2026 Rate Review Mechanism filings and requested rate increase.