SYLACAUGA — Talks about putting the pool bubble up again this year will continue next week.The Sylacauga City Council will meet with the Parks and Recreation Board members Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 5:30 p.m. inside the mayor’s conference room, on the second floor of City Hall.
Council President Doug Murphree said Friday the meeting is primarily for the council and the board to continue discussion of keeping the municipal pool open during the winter months.
The two groups have previously discussed putting up the bubble cover over the municipal pool, for the fifth year, at September council work sessions.
The reason the bubble has not been put up this year is that the council has not yet approved to shoulder the costs of utilities to keep the pool heated while the dome is up, usually from October until May.
Figures read at the Sept. 29 work session indicated that, during four of the months the city paid the energy bills for the heated pool, the costs averaged approximately $8,265.25 per month. The most expensive figure read was dated Feb. 4, 2008, when the city paid $11,816 in energy costs for the pool.
The council decided to table the issue at the work session until members had the opportunity to see complete budget projections for the new fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.
“We realize this is an inconvenience to people, but people have to look at the big picture. We have to see if we can afford those costs,” Mayor Sam Wright said last week. “We want to do the right thing, but we have to get right with our budget.”
Wright could not be reached for comment about the meeting Friday.
During winter months, the Sylacauga swim team and water aerobics classes use the pool, and Parks and Recreation Director Jim Armstrong said the facility is also used for birthday swim parties.
At the Sept. 15 council meeting, before Armstrong spoke with the council, the Parks and Recreation Board voted to agree with any recommendation made by the council.
The meeting is open to the public.
