April 2023
Dear Residents,
We wanted to share some good news with you that we believe will enhance both our outdoor and indoor pools. With our pool maintenance contract due for renewal this spring, the HOA board sought proposals from the three pool maintenance companies that service both indoor and outdoor pools and could meet the requirements under the Suffolk County Department of Health guidelines for maintaining community pools. After receiving proposals from the companies we contacted, our current company, Big Splash, offered us the best deal possible, providing pool services at a cost that was within our budgetary numbers for 2023. This will also include the conversion of our chlorine pools to saltwater pools, something that many residents have inquired about and that the board was also interested in pursuing.
Working with the owner of Big Splash, we were able to negotiate a 3-year contract that includes the conversion of both pools from chlorine to salt for chemical maintenance. As stated, this three-year contract fell within our budgetary numbers in year one with a small increase in years two and three of the contract. It was lower than any of the other proposals we received, and by making the conversion, it also results in a $2,800 savings in chlorine each year of the contract. With the cost of chlorine having risen over 26% in the past several years, and with anticipated increases in the years to come for the type of commercial chlorine we are required to use, it made sense to move forward with this initiative at this time.
After reviewing the proposals from other pool companies, it became clear that negotiating a three-year agreement with Big Splash would produce the following benefits:
1) We are still able to remain within our 2023 budgeted allowance for pool maintenance.
2) We can achieve an overall savings of 40-50% over the lifespan of the saltwater system as compared to the continuing increase in the cost of chlorine chemicals, based on saltwater studies of conversions.
3) Saltwater systems are less harsh on the skin and eyes, do not emit strong chemical odors, or fade swimsuits.
4) Overall, saltwater systems create a healthier pool environment.
You can look forward to the benefits of a “soft and silky” feeling with this conversion to saltwater in our pools. We are pleased that we can provide this to our community as we prepare for the upcoming summer pool season, and we anticipate that the conversion of both pools will be completed prior to the opening of our outdoor pool on Memorial Day weekend.
Sincerely,
Holly Bernhard on behalf of the HOA Board of Directors
