Council hears pool options

MADISON – With cancellation of the proposed recreation campus, Madison City Council has refocused on a swimming facility.

In public comments, resident Bebe Oetjen questioned expenditures that council paid for the recreation campus. The city “spent $570,000 to a construction management company (Volkert & Associates) but not a shovel of dirt has been shoveled,” she said.

“I would like to know what has been done. I don’t why we continue to pay these people,” Oetjen said.

Oetjen said the city paid more than $1 million to Nola VanPeursem Architects. “All we got are a video and plans,” she said.

“Those two (payments) go to over $1.5 million. Volkert & Associates should pay us back. They haven’t constructed anything,” Oetjen said.

President/District 5 Councilman Tommy Overcash said the construction management firm for the new library helped save money by “pushing the design” with expertise that architects did not have.

The issue of a competition swimming pool still exists. Dublin Park’s indoor pool has 8 lanes at 25 meters, which doesn’t satisfy demand for school and recreation swimmers.

City Administrator Taylor Edge said two problems exist with the Dublin pool. Practice space is limited for James Clemens and Bob Jones high school swim team and recreation leagues. “This situation limits team membership,” Edge said. Lap or adult swimmers can’t use the pool after 3 p.m. from September to June.

In addition, Dublin lacks amenities for spectators, locker space and warm-up/cool-down spaces for competitors.

Edge presented three options for a pool:

* Option One – A seasonal support or ‘bubble’ for outdoor pool. Heating and deck enhancements would be added.
Estimated cost: $420,000
Pros: Relieves practice problem with relatively low cost. Provides diving option during off-season. Uses existing facilities.
Cons: Depth of water, particularly for dives. Doesn’t relieve competition venue problems.

* Option Two – Expansion of existing pool to add four to five lanes. Add lockers. Move service road.
Estimated cost: $4,977,500
Pros: Increase lanes from 8 to 12 or 13. Creates warm-up/cool-down pool for competition. Maintains different water temperatures for swim, therapy and exercise.
Cons: Doesn’t address all competition venue issues, like spectator space.

* Option Three – New aquatics center, west of Central Office on Celtic Drive. Gives 10 lanes at 25 meters.
Estimated cost: $10,500,000
Pros: Provides complete competition venue for swim/dive.
Cons: Construction cost doesn’t match available funds.

An adequate budget exists for Options 1 and 2 but not for Option 3, Edge said.

“The plan (for the recreation center) that we had before has a long-term plan for the city that failed,” District 2 Councilman Steve Smith said.

Council and Madison Board of Education will study pool options and advise Edge on which option needs further study. Overcash expects a consensus by mid-January 2017.

Council approved these bill payments/cancellations for recreation center:

* $33,500, Volkert & Associates, final payment, construction management.
* Terminated architectural services with Nola VanPeursem.
* $38,971.89, Hand Arendall, bond attorney.

Council approved rezoning property at northeast intersection of Shelton Road and Old Madison Pike owned by Colonnade Communities from residential to business district.

The city has received more than 30 applications for Fire Chief, Mayor Paul Finley said.