Council to vote on $13M center
Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley will ask the City Council to consider moving forward with a proposed $13 million lifestyle center, which will replace the city’s aging pool with an aquatics center and wellness center.
Tankersley has asked that the item be included on the agenda at the Tuesday, June 14, meeting. The lifestyle center is his recommendation for dealing with the city pool, which has already had a couple of minor repairs to cracks in the wall since it opened May 28.
“I’m going to ask the council to consider the lifestyle center,” Tankersley said. “If the council doesn’t want to move forward with the lifestyle center idea, then I’ll ask the council for their recommendation of what to do with the pool.”
Since the idea was first proposed one month ago, council members have expressed concern and support over the issue. The most vocal opposition has come from Council President Kenny Thompson.
While he thinks the center is a good idea, he’s concerned that the city would not be able to generate enough revenue to pay for itself. He doesn’t believe the city could get 2,850 members to a lifestyle center, thus leaving the city’s having to pay the debt payments out of the general fund.
“I’m just concerned we may be getting in over our heads,” Thompson said. “I’ve heard many residents say that they don’t think we should go this much in debt to build a center that wouldn’t draw enough membership to pay for itself. I don’t think there are 3,000 people who would join a health club in Hartselle.”
Tankersley said he has talked with Tom Bender, owner of Bender’s Gym, about managing the wellness part of the center. They have been working on a proposal to present to the council at its next meeting.
At a previous meeting, Bender said he was interested in working with the city on this project.
The council is scheduled to have a work session on Monday, June 13, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. No decisions will be made until the regular meeting on June 14 at 7 p.m.
