ELLIJAY, Ga. – “I feel real good right now about where we are. We have a very reputable firm that has successfully completed some projects way larger than ours. They’re anxious to get our engineering done, to get to the point that we can put this out to bid. And then they will bid on it as well.” Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlie Paris told those present at a Town Hall style meeting on Thursday, February 10, 2022, that there was progress on the county’s pool design. He spoke about confidence, not only in the design and the firm, but confidence that the county will see more than just this firm bidding on the project as well.

Citizens were also excited to see actual construction as a likelihood in the near future. That near future is anticipated to begin this year.

The current design that is being engineered, and is scheduled to begin the bidding process sometime in April as Chairman Paris said it might include a special called meeting, includes eight swim lanes that will no be roped off during community usage, but will be roped off for competitions and practice. The designs still includes the diving well that was discussed in January as wo whether it should still be built considering liability costs and extra construction. The diving well is separated from the main competition pool and is eleven feet deep as opposed to the mostly five foot deep pool. That depth comes up to four and a half feet in the middle. There is also two entrances into the pool, one via stairs and one zero-entry ramp.

The design also includes the slide that citizens originally asked for, but the town hall saw many asking for the end of the slide to be removable so as not to interfere or obstruct swimmers in that lane during practices and competitions.

The main focus of the board at this time, as stated in the meeting, is to “get this pool in the ground.” Picking a bid and moving quickly, the board does hope to have the pool open close or on time with the regular opening date of memorial day in 2023.

The board stated this focus as they took notes on comments from citizens on extra needs for the pool including simple things from towel hooks to major needs like bathroom repairs. The board said that smaller things like the hooks could be dealt with after the pool construction is completed. However, they also took note of citizens comments involving things like a chair lift that would need to be confirmed in the designs and anchored in the concrete.

The design also sets the diving well as the furthest from the civic center and the wading pool will be the closest to the civic center. The stairs and zero entry to the main pool will be towards the civic center and bathrooms.

Larry Lykins questioned the board on if they would continue to save the money they have over the past several years for the pool. Until now, the money was continuously saved in order to fund the pool project construction. Several other citizens followed suit with options for continued savings to fund a covering roof and building to enclose the pool or other additional facilities or projects. Paris read items from a letter he had received that requested a retractable roof instead of a closed roof.

The board said that additional funding for a roof or anything else would be a discussion the board would have to make. As it is a budget item for the year, continued plans for additional savings would occur during budget discussions, typically in October.

An additional discussion involved pool management. Lykins presented the idea that the pool needed a dedicated position for pool management and usage. He suggested it is going to be a lot busier and is going to have more requests for usage. He told the board that this could need a dedicated person for complete management of the pool instead of making it additional duties for someone already working on other things.

Discussion continued on possible swim meets and the funding that these competitions could bring to the county through the school swim team and other options. Along with that, citizens asked why there was no commitment from the school or other entities who will benefit from the pool. Chairman Paris noted that when the board was considering locations for the pool, before the returned to its current spot, the city of East Ellijay committed to purchasing property to donate to the county at the city’s cost.

Though the location fell through, they did commit to the purchase.

Citizens still asked why the school wasn’t funding or aiding in funding the project. Paris commented, “As far as the Board of Education, that’s something you would have to ask the Board of Education.”

Many citizens thanked the board for continuing progress on the project and not letting it fall by the wayside. Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson also said she was proud of the county for taking the initiative to put away funds and begin funding the pool earlier on. This process began before her election to the board with former Post 2 Commissioner Travis Crouch and former Post 1 Commissioner Dallas Miller.