Crockett council refers pool-rebuild plan to parks advisory board after extended debate
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Summary
After a lengthy discussion of past bids, funding options and community priorities, Crockett council voted to refer a plan to rebuild the city pool to the parks and recreation advisory board with two council members and a report back in about 60 days.
Crockett — The city council voted April 6 to pause immediate action on rebuilding the municipal swimming pool and instead referred the matter to the parks and recreation advisory board with two council members to evaluate grant, scope and operating options and return a recommendation in roughly 60 days.
City staff (S7) recounted the pool’s history: the old pool closed in 2015, engineers found structural problems and the city built a splash pad in the old location. Staff said prior full-pool bids in 2019–2020 ran between about $1.1 million and $1.4 million after COVID-related price increases, compared with earlier estimates near $750,000. S7 told the council the city qualified to apply for a Parks and Wildlife grant of about $1.5 million that requires roughly a 50% local match (around $750,000).
Resident commenters (S5) and several council members emphasized the pool’s community value. "If we provided an animal shelter that's not gonna bring in any income… we need to do something for our youth," S5 said, urging the council to prioritize an amenity for children and families. S7 cautioned that pools are expensive to operate and that annual revenue from rentals and fees historically averaged about $10,000 a year for the facility, which would not cover operating costs.
Council members pressed for more precise operating-cost estimates. S6 (Precinct Two Alderman) and others asked staff to provide subsidy and maintenance projections; S7 said staff could develop estimates based on other cities and the city’s historical revenue and expenses. Councilmember S2 moved to table further action and refer the project to the parks advisory board with two council members to study grants, scope, alternative uses of funds and long-term operational impacts. S3 seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote.
The referral pauses immediate construction decisions and directs the advisory board and the designated council members to collect cost estimates, examine potential grant applications and report back to council. S7 said reapplying for the Parks and Wildlife grant would likely delay work by about a year and that construction costs may increase the longer the city waits.
