City concerned about pool safety

If you have a portable pool out on your lawn, you may be in violation of city ordinance. The Portales city council plans to look further into the city's laws and statutes to see if portable pools are required to be in a fenced in area, the reason being for child safety.

At Tuesday's city council meeting, Ward C councilor Leo Lovett asked other councilors if they considered portable pools a safety hazard and councilors agreed.

City attorney Steve Doerr told councilors that there may in fact be in ordinance already in place with portable pools being defined as a "nuisance" but councilors felt the language in the ordinance wasn't specific enough.

Ward D council Keith Thomas said if it isn't in there, he'd like to add it and other councilors agreed.

Lovett said residents have complained about portable pools being left on properties where the public can access them, which poses a safety risk with the possibility of children playing and drowning.

The council plans to take action on the issue and review the ordinance soon.