IRVINE

Top officials at the elite Irvine Novaquatics swim club have experienced nothing but bureaucratic headaches since answering an advertisement offering the use of the indoor pool at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Tony Gauthier, vice president of the club, said county representatives led the swim club to believe it could be using the pool by July 1999. But they have yet to get wet there.

If U.S. Navy officials and Orange County supervisors can’t reach an agreement for a master lease by the time the short-term contract runs out July 1, the base would be closed to the public July 2 and nobody will be able to use any of its facilities.

Supervisor Tom Wilson made it clear at an El Toro workshop Wednesday that the Novaquatics’ use of the pool is a priority to him as well as the community.