(09/01/2026)

Elks Members,

​

I have an important update to share regarding our Pool Project.

​

Today, we successfully passed the County Building Final Inspection. This confirms that the construction portion of the project is finished.

​

Following that approval, Environmental Health advised us of a new requirement. Our engineering firm must submit an updated set of plans reflecting the final As-Built conditions for their review. Environmental Health will then conduct another plan review process, which we have been advised can take up to 30 days.

​

Once that review is complete and their final inspection is passed, we can move to the last step.

​

I know this is not what we expected today. Passing the Building Final was a huge win, and being informed of an additional plan review requirement at this stage was certainly a surprise.

​

We are staying on top of the process and working closely with our engineering firm and Environmental Health to provide anything needed as quickly as possible.

​

I will continue to provide updates through the Email News Blast as soon as I have new information to share.

​

Thank you for your continued support, patience, and understanding.

Passing today’s inspection was a real milestone, and we’ll continue moving ahead with diligence and transparency.

​

Fraternally,

Chris Setzer
Exalted Ruler
Sanford Elks Lodge #1679

​

​

(08/31/2026)

We are getting close, and I want to give everyone a clear update on exactly where the Pool Project stands as of Monday morning.

We recently completed the final inspection with the County Building Inspector for the main portion of the project, and I'm happy to report that approximately 95% of the project looked great. There were only a few minor items that needed to be addressed, including relocating one of the pool ladders to meet current code requirements.

​

As of this morning, all required repairs have been completed and we are 100% ready for reinspection.

​

I am currently working with the County to get that reinspection scheduled. I would love to tell everyone that it will happen Tuesday, but I don't want to make a promise I can't guarantee. The County inspectors have a very busy schedule, but they have also been extremely helpful throughout this entire process. They understand where we are, and I believe they are just as eager as we are to see this project completed. I'll certainly be pushing to get the reinspection completed sooner rather than later.

​

Once we receive the final sign-off from the Building Inspections Department, the pool will move to Environmental Health for its final approval. This is the normal inspection process that every public pool in the County must complete before opening for use. We have remained in constant communication with Environmental throughout the project, and at this time, I do not foresee any major setbacks with that portion of the process.

​

Once both departments give us the green light, I will immediately announce our official opening date.

​

I know everyone wants a date—I do too—but we've come too far to start making promises based on what we hope will happen. We're going to finish the process correctly, get the approvals in hand, and then open those gates.

​

And when we do open, we're not calling it quits because summer is ending. Our plan is to keep the pool open through the end of October, weather permitting, to give our members as much opportunity as possible to enjoy it.

​

I've also heard you. There have been requests and ideas for Adult Night Swims, pool events, and other activities, and I'm absolutely willing to work with our members and Lodge Activities Committee to make some of those happen once we get through this renovation and officially open.

Most importantly, thank you for your patience. This has been a long process, and I know there have been frustrations along the way. We are truly down to the final steps.

​

I'll provide another update later this week as soon as I know the results of the Building reinspection and where we stand with Environmental.

​

We're almost there!

 

(06/16/2026)

​Our pool contractor continues to make steady progress and is diligently working through the final phases of the project. One of the unexpected challenges we’ve encountered has been groundwater seeping through a seam in the pool shell. This issue prevented the sealer from bonding properly and delayed the painting process. As of this morning, the contractor advised that the groundwater issue should be resolved this week, allowing paint preparation to begin.

 

In addition to the pool shell work, significant progress has been made on the mechanical systems. The contractor is nearly finished installing the new equipment for the main pool in the newly constructed equipment room. Once that work is complete, installation of the kiddie pool equipment will begin. The contractor and electrician have remained in constant communication throughout the project to ensure electrical work can proceed immediately behind equipment installation.

 

This project involves entirely new piping, electrical systems, and plumbing infrastructure. While we anticipated some upgrades, we did not anticipate the number of issues that would be uncovered once work began. Although these discoveries have extended the timeline, they are being addressed correctly rather than temporarily patched. Our goal is not simply to open the pool, but to provide a reliable facility that will serve the Lodge well for many years to come.

 

The contractor is also coordinating with the project engineer for a site visit and inspection, as well as County Environmental Health and County Inspections, to ensure all work meets required standards before opening.

 

At this time, I do not have an official opening date to announce. However, I want to assure everyone that the project is moving forward and the pool will open once all work, inspections, and approvals have been completed.

 

I also want to apologize for the lack of recent updates. Between Lodge responsibilities, work, family, and other commitments, I have not done as good a job communicating progress as I would have liked. I appreciate everyone’s patience, understanding, and continued support as we work through the final stages of this project.

​

Thank you for your patience as we invest in improvements that will benefit our members and guests for years to come.

​

Fraternally,

Chris Setzer
Exalted Ruler
Sanford Elks Lodge #1679

​

(02/16/2026)

We apologize for not providing updates as frequently as we would have liked and truly appreciate your patience and understanding.

​

Our contractors continue to work diligently on the necessary improvements and repairs. Based on the latest progress reports, they are confident that the pool will be ready for the 2026 summer season. While construction timelines can occasionally shift, everything is currently moving in a positive direction.

​

We understand how important the pool is to many of our members and families, and we are looking forward to reopening and welcoming everyone back. We will provide additional updates here as milestones are reached.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the Lodge.

​

(11/03/2025)

We’re pleased to share that all the necessary permits have been approved, allowing us to move forward with the long-awaited pool repairs. This has been a major step in a lengthy process, and we’re excited to finally see progress taking shape.
 

Our goal is to have the pool fully restored and ready to reopen for the summer of 2026. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we work to bring this important Lodge amenity back for our members and their families to enjoy for many years to come.

​

(05/07/2025)

We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to provide an update on the ongoing Pool Remodel project and share some of the progress happening at the Lodge.

​

Our engineers have submitted the remodel plans to the city for review. While some slight modifications are required, we’ve taken the opportunity to begin preliminary site preparation in the meantime.

​

A big thank you to A&S Solutions, owned and operated by Anthony and Erica Cochrane, who have been hard at work prepping and cleaning up the site. We also appreciate Mid South Turf Management, led by Daniel Doby, for stopping by to mow and trim the area, giving it a much-needed refresh.

​

We’re pleased to report that the directional boring for the new 6” main drain line is now complete. This was no small feat, given the unpredictable “backfill” from the original pool construction. Many thanks to the team at H&A Directional Boring for their persistence and professionalism in getting this critical task done.

​

The forms for the new pool room walls have been fabricated, and we’re awaiting feedback from Lee County Environmental, who is currently reviewing the updated plans. Regulations for pool construction have understandably become more rigorous since the 1960s, and we are committed to making the necessary upgrades to meet all current standards.

​

There is still a lot of work ahead, and we understand how important the timing of this project is. We truly appreciate your continued support and patience as we work to bring this exciting renovation to life.

​

Fraternally,
Sanford Elks Lodge #1679