GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” Bids for the construction of an aquatic facility at the Community Center are being sought even before funding for the project has been identified.

But city manager Mike Copp said he’s confident the city will be able to find the more than $2 million needed to build the pool and its building.

“We’re still looking at different alternatives,” Copp said of the funding.

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Bids ” which are construction company estimates on how much to charge for materials, labor and profit ” are due by Nov. 20 and will be unsealed on Dec. 4.

The estimated cost of the aquatic center is $3.8 million to $4.1 million, but the bids could come in over or under that range.

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Copp said some possible methods of funding the pool will be determined by City Council’s next regular meeting on Nov. 20.

“We’ll either pay cash or borrow it,” he said, adding that there is a “strong possibility” some or all the needed money could come from the city’s South Canyon landfill operation.

Some of the required funds for the center already have been raised or set aside.

In 2001, City Council promised to set aside $750,000 for pool construction. That money is still available. Also, a group called Friends of the Community Center has received $1.1 million in pledges. More than $200,000 of those pledges have been collected and are being held by the nonprofit Two Rivers Community Foundation, leaving close to $900,000 not yet gathered.

Despite the large sum of money still not collected, fund-raising organizer Terri Miller said she’s confident that most people who pledged to give to the aquatic center won’t balk when it comes time for her to collect.

“I hope we can collect the $1.1 million and I hope we can collect $300,000 on top of that,” Miller said. “I feel confident that the pledges will come forth.”

Nearly a quarter of the pledged money comes from the Denver-based Gates Family Foundation in the form of a $250,000 grant.

After the $1.1 million in pledge money and the $750,000 already set aside by the city, the city government will have to provide up to $2.25 million more to build the aquatic center.

Miller said she thinks $4.1 million is likely on the high side, but figures it’s better to overestimate than go too low.

“I don’t suspect they’ll have to find that much,” she said.

Miller noted that there are options for people who want to help fund the pool. The money can be paid either in a lump sum when construction is authorized, or over a period of up to four years. She also pointed out that donations are tax deductible.

“I’m really excited,” Miller said of the aquatic center becoming a reality.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com