Pool staff takes care of ‘ill-conceived prank'

Staff at the New Bern Aquatic Center followed health department guidelines to clean the pool after feces was discovered in the pool Tuesday morning.

New Bern Recreation and Parks director Thurman Hardison said workers discovered what he called “an ill-conceived prank” when they arrived at the pool at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

“The facility was locked and secured from 11 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday,” Hardison said.

Hardison said someone entered the pool illegally.

Pool personnel have a procedure of sanitation in the event of a “potty episode,” according to Hardison.

He said this is the first deliberate act of its kind since the pool opened in June 2009.

There was no other damage at the pool and Hardison said police were not called about the incident.