At its weekly meeting, Athens City Council continued its discussion on the future of the city pool and passed a resolution asking the Ohio University Board of Trustees to postpone its vote to demolish the President Street Academic Center.
Athens City Council introduced legislation Tuesday evening to authorize Athens City Auditor Kathy Hecht to borrow up to $500,000 for "engineering services" associated with an "outdoor municipal swimming pool."
However, some council members questioned the amount the auditor was asking to borrow.
Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, and Councilwoman Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, expressed frustration with the amount of confusion and lack of communication throughout the planning process.
"I don’t know where that number ($500,000) came from," Papai said.
Papai also said the city already spent about $25,000 for a design for an indoor natatorium with an outdoor pool component set to cost about $7.3 million, according to a consultation from Brandstetter Carroll, Inc.
"We’ve only had one consultant and one opinion. We’re voting solely on the (Arts, Park and Recreation Advisory Board) opinion, and there is still a lot of controversy over that," Papai said.
Fahl echoed Papai's concerns surrounding the controversial recommendation of the Arts, Park and Recreation Advisory Board.
"This process has not been well-communicated and has been confusing," Fahl said. "Planning is a living, breathing process."
At first, Hecht said she did not know where the amount came from either, but later said the $500,000 represents five percent of the total cost of the project.
Five percent of the estimated cost given to the city by Brandstetter Carroll would be $365,000.
Hecht added that the final cost of the project was still unknown, but any leftover funds borrowed would be used at the discretion of city council.
With the proposed legislation and the previous design, the city could potentially have an extra $135,000 to use toward other projects.
"Something needs to be done on this, one way or another," Hecht said.
City council members also approved a resolution to ask for the postponement of a vote by the Ohio University Board of Trustees on the demolition of the President Street Academic Center.
The resolution came after the Athens Historical Society expressed concerns over the possible demolition of the building.
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson also expressed his concerns over its demolition, and personally wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees suggesting the vote be postponed.
The OU Board of Trustees are scheduled to meet on Thursday and vote on resolutions Friday.
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