It’s no secret that some work needs to be done at Fountain Park. While it’s great to see the green grass, lovely trees, loads of artwork and attractions for youngsters and families alike, none of that stuff will be as attractive if the lake itself isn’t gotten under control.

Anyone who visited Fountain Park during the spring and early summer likely got a nose full of the most pressing issue: The smell. Put simply, the world-famous fountain is running on technology that’s a bit outdated at this point. Couple that with earlier-than-usual warm temperatures and a bit of wind keeping the fountain from running as often as we’d like, and it turns out we’ve got ourselves an ideal location for algae to grow and, as was the case this year, create an unpleasant atmosphere.

However, you don’t take care of an ant hill with a stick of dynamite, especially if you don’t have the budget for more extreme measures. That’s why we are happy to see the Council moving forward with a less dramatic, less costly first step in solving the problem.

It’s become painfully obvious at this point that the fountain control system will need to be replaced in the coming years but, at the tune of about $700,000, we don’t have that kind of money just lying around for repairs.

A good starting place, though, is the upgrade of the circulation system that keeps the water moving in Fountain Lake. That’s exactly what town staff is moving forward with following the Sept. 1 Town Council meeting, a process that will only cost about $200,000 and, fingers crossed, could take care of the lake’s ecosystem issues.

The plan is to replace the 12 aerators currently moving the water in Fountain Lake, as well as add an additional 12 to enhance the effectiveness. Also on the table are 10 horizontal circulators that, when combined with the 24 aerators and regular running of the fountain, should keep the algae issue to a minimum and, thus, prevent the odor we all grew familiar with this past spring. This system should have the added bonus of making a healthier environment for the fish and wildlife in Fountain Lake, as well as provide an added deterrent against mosquitos.

All of that, and the funds for the project are already in the budget. We think this is a solid first step at addressing the Fountain Park issues and, if successful, more costly options might no longer be necessary.