Approval to move forward with the project came after lengthy discussions between councilmen Carl Ferebee and Wayne Smith.
At the end of the debate, council members Ernest Bobbitt and Carol Cowen sided with Ferebee to approve the repairs while Suetta Scarbrough and Smith voted against them.
For members of the communities who use the pool and have attended numerous meetings pleading for the repairs, the vote was welcome news.
“We’re pleased. They made the right decision,” said Margaret Clark. “Our children need that pool. I am so glad they decided to fix it. Our children are our future. We need the same extras as other communities.”
Clark said she believed the constant attending of meetings helped the community’s cause. “Being visible. Being visible had a lot to do with it. They knew our children needed a pool in our area.”
One woman said after the meeting while she was glad the pool was going to be repaired, she wasn’t happy the motion passed on a split vote. “We can’t have our cake and eat it, too.”
Ferebee said afterward he believed the people from the community speaking up on the matter, as well as those from other communities who supported the repairs, helped. “Anytime you have people supporting something I think that always helps.”
Ferebee said he doesn’t believe the decision to fund the repairs will be as dire as Smith predicted in discussions on the matter. “I think there’s ways. Looking at revenues I think we’ll be able to work that in.”
Estimates presented to council last month by parks and recreation Director John Simeon showed the pool repairs to be around $300,000. That figure is split between $225,000 for the pool and $75,000 for the bath house at the facility.
Discussion of the matter came as an add-on to the meeting agenda, which was requested by Ferebee.
“It has been six months since we first started discussing the Chaloner pool,” Ferebee said. “Many have told you of their concerns that it is needed in the community.”
He told his fellow council members the pool has value in the community. “It’s been a fixture for many years.”
Ferebee said the city found funding through installment financing for police cars and the fire department. It also found money for funding improvements to Rochelle Pond. “We took money for the Aquatic Center out of fund balance.”
He said council members request funding for items they have an interest in. “I’m asking for what’s fair,” and admitted the pool funding was a matter of representing the people in his district. “It’s about me this time. I’ve been a good steward.”
Smith said it wasn’t that he didn’t want the pool repaired, but he believes the city can’t afford to make the payments. “We’ve got a nice recreation center here,” he said, referring to T.J. Davis. “The city manager would allow a bus come over (to Chaloner). I think right now that’s all the city can do.”
Smith said he is concerned about the potential impacts on the next fiscal year budget and how it may affect services and possible increases in employee insurance. “Spending our money to repair a pool when we have two, what’s more important? Employees or a pool?”