By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – The city of Marshfield is now looking at the fall of 2021 for the start of construction on the proposed aquatic center on the city’s south side.

The aquatic center will replace the aging Hefko Pool and provide added amenities for a public aquatic center. Construction on the facility was originally planned to begin this fall.

With $3.5 million committed by the city and $3 million in fundraising needed from the public, City Administrator Steve Barg said that private donations totaled not quite half of what was needed for the project.

“The hope is that we could raise the $3 million from private donors in about a six to eight month period and that just didn’t happen,” Barg said.

“People might wonder is this project going to go forward. Typically, for a project of this size it would be a 14-16 month process to raise the $3 million to match the city’s money. We were hopeful. The fact that it didn’t come to fruition doesn’t mean we are in trouble or that we are not moving ahead.

“We are continuing to extend it. We have about $1.25 million right now, and we are going to continue through the spring and summer.”

If enough is raised by that time, the city could move forward on the project, which Barg said might be a more optimal time for obtaining bids on the work.

“The hope now is if we can bid the project out in the middle to latter part of the fall, we will probably get better bids than we would have gotten, even if we had bid it out now and it would be for construction then in 2021,” he said.

Once contractors are chosen, construction could begin at the end of the summer, which would provide minimal disruption to pool access in the summer months.

“I think the goal would be similar than what we hoped to do this year; that is to begin construction after the summer season, perhaps in August 2021 with completion as early as possible in 2022,” Barg explained.

Barg added that the city share of the project will be pushed back to the 2021 budget.