Auroraadvocate.com - City will enforce pool rules strictly

by Brent Hovey

Reporter

Aurora -- When temperatures reached 70 degrees last week, most people probably thought of the same thing -- summer.

Snow two days later, thanks to Ohio's unstable winter weather, brought us back to Earth but the seed was already planted. Summer will be here soon enough.

Summer is a time to enjoy warm weather, and for young children, no activity fulfills that more than swimming.

The city wants to be sure residents are aware of regulations governing pools at residences.

According to Planning-Zoning-Building Director Rich Wehrenberg, the city's code requires any pool 18 inches or deeper to be enclosed.

A swimming pool is defined by the code as "anything 18 inches or deeper, manmade and artificial, and used for swimming, diving or recreational bathing."

Included are large, inflatable pools that are no more than 3 feet deep and can be purchased at a store for about $100.

Blue plastic pools have become popular in the last couple of years, popping up in backyards across Northeast Ohio. Putting one in a yard without proper safety regulations could result in fines and citations.

Regulations requiring pools to be enclosed have been part of Aurora's code for some time, but the department hasn't had the manpower to enforce it, according to Wehrenberg.

WHEN THE building and planning-zoning departments combined last July, it gave them more employees to enforce the regulations.

"With new people, we're able to look at all of our codes more in depth," Wehrenberg said. "This one is at the top of our list because of the danger to children."

An enclosure should be a fence at least 4 feet high, with no more than 4-inch gaps between panels and a locking gate.

Wehrenberg said the exception to a fence is an above-ground pool with 48-inch sides, an access ladder or steps that can be removed, and a topper 18 inches high.

If an above-ground pool meets all three criteria, it does not need to be enclosed.

Wehrenberg said store-bought, inflatable pools present the biggest problem.

"People can pick them up easily and stick them in their yards," he said. "But it's a violation. Those pools are dangerous because of the way the wall bulges out and makes it easy for kids to climb up into."

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 280 drowning deaths of children 5 or younger occur each year in the United States, mostly in residential pools.

CPSC said 17 of those deaths in 2005 came in inflatable pools, up from nine in 2004.

The code will be enforced by the city's zoning inspector, who will drive every street in Aurora once a week looking for infractions.

THE FIRST offense will be a written warning notifying the homeowner of the violation. Less than a week later, if the resident is still in violation another warning will be issued.

On the third violation, the homeowner will be cited, and liable to pay up to a $150 fine per day.

"It's going to be an education for a lot of people," said Wehrenberg. "Some people had these pools up last year and the year before, and were never told they were dangerous or they had to enclose them.

"It's a new program as far as they're concerned, but the statute has always been there.

"I realize it's not going to very popular, but we have to look at the big picture -- the safety picture. The overriding concern is the safety of Aurorans, especially small children.

"We don't want to deny people their ability to [enjoy recreation] in their own yard, but the code provides a way to do that safely and we're going to make sure it's enforced this year."

Wehrenberg said he does not want the city to have to use its citation power, but hopes residents will comply without having to be warned.

He encourages anyone with questions to call his department at 330-562-9464. And for more information on drownings related to swimming pools, visit CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

E-mail: bhovey@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3115