Modesto's school pool fees also out of line

Congratulations to Dick Hagerty ("Are they building public housing or mansions?" Jan. 15, Page A-9) for addressing a topic that has bothered me immensely for years. The costs put forth from time to time by the city and other public entities for construction or rehabilitation of small structures seem way out of line, even considering prevailing wage, etc.

I wonder if Dick read the article in The Bee about the school board and its vote on the controversial Enochs High pool? According to the article, the total architect's fee will be $260,000. Of that, the board authorized spending $80,000 for pool design. Are you kidding? Don't tell me that any number of pool construction companies don't have designs "on the shelf" for Olympic-size pools.

Design and cost estimating for a school pool, of which there are numerous precedents, should require minimal architectural effort. After the design, what will the architect do for the remaining $180,000?

GREG STAHL

Modesto