New pool’s opening date pending as Whitehall councilman, mayor at odds

WHITEHALL, Pa. — Whitehall pool-goers have long-awaited the opening of the borough’s brand-new pool, but Channel 11 has received mixed messages on when the new amenity will debut.

Earlier this month, the borough’s newest councilperson, Stone Sobieralski, posted a Facebook message telling residents that he wanted to “be upfront about the status of the pool.”

Traditionally, the pool has opened on Memorial Day weekend, and passes are already on sale for the 2023 season.

“The pool construction was set to be complete April 1st. However, we retained the construction manager for another month since the project is not yet completed. The new tentative date of completion was now moved to MAYBE June or July,” the post says.

Sobieralski reiterated that information during an interview with Channel 11 on Monday.

He also told us that the shotcrete did not test to proper psi.

Channel 11 asked the Borough Manager Courtney Wertz about that. She said, via email, “the shotcrete exceeded engineering design standards of 4000 psi.  The project has passed all building inspections and applicable operating codes to date.”

Following Sobieralski’s Facebook post, dated April 7, the borough made its own post later that morning.

That post, which was also placed on the borough’s website, says “the latest schedule provided by the General Contractor and their Surety Company anticipates a completion date of June 1.”

Despite the rain on Monday, Channel 11 saw crews at work at the site.

There, we also spoke with the borough’s longtime mayor, Jim Nowalk. Nowalk refuted Sobieralski’s claims, insisting that the opening date will be delayed only briefly, and that the pool should open on June 1.

He referred to Sobieralski’s post as a “political stunt” and said that the situation has been handled in a “very responsible manner.”

“We hired a construction manager, we didn’t have to do that, but we did it because we wanted to make sure that everything was done right and everything was done well, and it has been,” Mayor Nowalk told Channel 11. “The concrete has been properly poured, all the work is being overseen by this construction manager, and our borough engineer, and there aren’t problems.”

The project is set to cost $6 million. Nowalk said there is no “projection of any tax increases coming up in the near future.”

Mayor Nowalk provided Channel 11 with borough information stating that “there has not been a significant property tax increase in 20 years and three times during that time period the tax rate was decreased.”

The borough’s original pool closed in 2020 and was demolished in 2021 after nearly 60 years in service. The aging amenity had started to face structural issues, including one we reported in 2019.

“After community input the new pool was designed with young families in mind and includes a double flume water slide, climbing wall, spray features in the zero-depth entry and a shaded baby pool,” said Wertz. “This new pool will be the crown jewel of Whitehall Borough for years to come.”

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