Luling Moves to Seek Bids for an Aquatics Center After a $1 Million Gift

Luling could be one step closer to a public swimming pool this week. When the City Council meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, members will consider letting the city manager put the design and construction of an aquatics center out for bids.

The item is in the city's Nov. 5 agenda packet, posted in its online agenda center. A memo from the city manager says city staff, the Parks Advisory Committee and Caldwell County Commissioner Rusty Horne have done "a lot of work" on plans and possible designs.

Where the money comes from

The memo says the city has "slightly over $3,000,000" that could go toward the project. It names two sources: a contribution from the Luling Industrial Foundation, and "Project Bluewater for the use of X-bow land sale proceeds from the EDC." The packet does not break down how much comes from each.

Part of that money was pledged last month. Draft minutes of the Oct. 15 council meeting, which are up for approval on Nov. 5, say Lembo Allen, managing director of what the minutes call the Industrial Corporation of Luling, told the council it would donate $1 million earmarked for the aquatics center. He said he was ready to bring a check. The minutes record all six votes, including the mayor's, in favor of accepting the gift.

The 600 block of East Davis Street in downtown Luling in February 2023. Photo: Larry D. Moore / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

What the city wants built

The memo puts the pool on the west side of the basketball court next to the Northside Clubhouse in Northside Park. The request for proposals, dated Oct. 28, lists the address as 300 Trinity Street.

According to the proposal request, the city wants:

• A leisure pool of 4,000 to 4,500 square feet that can handle competition lanes

• A splash pad of 1,000 to 1,200 square feet

• 10,000 to 11,000 square feet of concrete decking

• A building with a bathhouse and space for lifeguards

• Parking, sidewalks, drainage, lighting and security fencing

The memo also mentions shade structures and says the work must meet accessibility rules. The winning firm would design and build the project as general contractor. The city's target for starting construction is mid-May 2027, though the document says the city may phase the work or change the schedule.

A draft bid notice in the packet sets a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at City Hall. Sealed bids would be due by 3 p.m. Nov. 24. The notice lists publication dates in the Luling Newsboy starting Nov. 4, the day before the council vote. A selection committee named by the city manager would score bids on price, experience, quality, past dealings with the city and long-term cost, then send a recommendation to the council.

Also on the agenda

The council will consider adopting a city transportation plan produced through the Caldwell County Road Bond program. The city manager's memo says the plan runs more than 400 pages and includes possible bypass routes. It would be the city's starting point for seeking TxDOT and other funding.

Auditors from BrooksWatson & Co. are set to present the city's 2025-26 audit. Police Chief M. Kinnard-Bing is also asking to auction a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado pickup. The chief's memo says repairs, including a new transmission, would cost $12,200, against a Kelley Blue Book range of $13,050 to $15,050. Only $6,646 is left in the department's vehicle maintenance budget, the memo says.

At the October meeting, the draft minutes show, the council also approved selling about 6 acres of city land to ESD #5. The city manager said the district wants it to add ambulance service north of the railroad tracks. The price was based on the appraisal district's market value.

For more on small-town parks and on Luling's Caldwell County neighbor, read our coverage of Wimberley and Lockhart.

Our view

A town pool is where children learn to swim, families spend a summer evening and neighbors get to know each other. It is good to see local donors putting up real money for it instead of asking taxpayers to carry it all. But a pool costs money every year after the ribbon is cut: lifeguards, chemicals and repairs. The packet does not say what this one will cost to run. Before the council signs a contract, Luling residents deserve that number.