Options for possible indoor pool revealed as parks board seeks local funding leaders

By Brandon Hurley
Managing Editor
news@beeherald.com

The dream of a future indoor pool in Jefferson has hit a slight snag.

After reviewing blueprints and evaluating expenses, the Jefferson Parks Board has decided to pursue a new project lead to help raise money and see the pool through to the finish.
Initially, the Jefferson Parks and Recreation department was ready to coordinate the project, as first announced in January, but a lull in fundraising efforts has caused a sudden halt.
The Jefferson Parks and Recreation Commission met on Monday, Sept. 19 and made the decision to put the project on hold in hopes of finding another entity to lead.  Ken Hagen from OPN Architects and George Deines from Counsilman-Hunsaker addressed the board remotely and presented their findings from a survey sent out to the community as well as three indoor pool options. They also covered the estimated costs of building each pool design and the yearly cost to maintain each pool option. The board agreed to step back from fundraising, instead offering the project lead to the public. The plan is to still have an indoor pool built if the right people come forward.

“After much discussion among the members of the Board, it was decided that there was enough information presented from OPN Architects and Counsilman-Hunsaker at this time to allow members of the public to take the lead on this project,” a recent parks and recreation press release stated. “The board members felt their role was not to actively lead the project but to support the project if there is sufficient interest from the public to raise further funds for the project.”

The minimum construction costs of an indoor pool addition to the community center is $4 million – a price for tailored to the most basic, four-lane lap pool installation without any extra bells and whistles.
There are no specific guidelines as to who and what can step forward, Hammen said, and there’s no limit to how many can get involved with the fundraising efforts. Simply put, the city is in search of persons, businesses or even non-profits to come forward and offer their passion and expertise.

“(We are looking) for anybody who is interested,” Hammen said. “We have some people that are interested in the project, but we haven’t had anybody come forward yet. We are making sure we didn’t miss anybody, we haven’t seen a grassroots movement to move it forward.”

AN INDOOR POOL IN J-TOWN

The Jefferson Parks and Recreation Board believes an indoor pool is the best course of action, blossoming from a generous monetary donation in 2020. The Rory Autenreith Trust gifted $845,570.61 to the community center, hoping to help with updates. The monies were explicitly stated to be used on the facility itself. Hammen said an indoor pool was of top priority among the board when the monies were announced.
The community center opened in 1998, eight years after her passing, a dream Autenreith never got to experience. The former local elementary teacher hoped Jefferson would some day christen a recreation center, which is why she chose to donate to the specific entity. If the rec center never was built, the money would’ve gone to the Greene County Medical Center, the only other organization she chose to share her wealth with. The corporation received $1.2 million of Autenreith’s graciousness.

More money is needed for the pool, which leaves the city in a tricky situation. They aren’t seeking out a bond issue nor is the city planning to raise taxes. They are trying to build this addition purely through donations.

“The board is not giving up on the project, we would like to see if there is enough push out there (to continue),” said Jefferson Parks and Rec director Dennis Hammen. “The board doesn’t have the time to move the project forward, but they are willing to work with somebody that wants to campaign.”

Autenreith’s donated monies will still be used for the indoor pool, if a fundraising entity is established and the project proceeds. The parks and rec department has earmarked the $845,000 to be held for the pool, though, several million dollars are needed to meet the project goal.

The public responded to a parks and rec survey earlier this year, expressing a want for fitness and recreation swimming, aquatic programs, rentals as well as opportunities for competitive swimming. The new pool would be constructed adjacent to the south side of the current rec center.

A TRIO OF PLANS

The OPN Architect firm, which also engineered the design of the Greene County High School, originally presented three detailed pool concepts for consideration to add onto the Greene County Community Center in Jefferson in July.
The pool options, which will be attached to the rec center, as envisioned by OPN, are laid out below:

OPTION 1 - Lap pool

A basic, four-lane pool and nothing else will cost an estimated $3 million to construct. This option would be 2,163 square feet featuring four, 25-yard lap lanes. The lanes could also be converted into an open pool area for swimming lessons, recreation and water fitness. An ADA accessible ramp would be installed along with stair entry. The pool would also come with staff offices, a storage room as well as a multipurpose room. A four-lane pool without features would be able to hold a maximum of 87 swimmers for recreation
The total cost for a four-lane pool would be $4.1 million, which would cost roughly $294,714 to operate per year. These estimates factor in staff costs, insurance, chemicals, advertising, utilities and program operation fees.

OPTION 2 - Lap pool and more

Option two is a four-lane pool with additional amenities such as a spa and spray pad. The total size of the pool and adorning area would be 3,757 square feet, which would cost $5.9 million to construct. This option includes four, 25-yard lap lanes as well in addition to a recreation area and an open swim area for lessons and water fitness. The spa would be 205 square feet while the spray area – with vertical and ground spray features, i.e. similar to a splash pad – would be 600 square feet. The facility addition would also include staff offices, a storage area as well as a multi-purpose room. The entire project would cost a shade south of $8 million, coming in at $7.99 million. The yearly operating expenses would come in at $379,171.

A total of 87 rec swimmers could use the four lane pool, while the four lane pool with amenities could house 182 rec swimmers.
Both four lane pools would be able to comfortably allow up to 12 lap swimmers.

OPTION 3 - Two pools, more lanes

Option three, the most expensive concept as well as the biggest, would include a 3,435 square foot lap pool as well as a 2,442 square foot pool for children and daily programs. The additional pool could be used for lessons as well as water basketball, water volleyball, fitness, children and other rec activities. The large lap pool would be home to six, 25-yard lanes with varying depths of 3.5 to seven feet.
This option would cost $6.9 million to build and $9.4 million for the entire project. The total pool area (two pools) would be 5,877 square feet with an operating yearly budget of $478,138.
The six lane option would have a capacity of 184 rec swimmers between the two pools, while the lap option would have room for a max of 18 swimmers.

REVNUE STREAM

OPN believes 49 percent of the revenue stream for a new pool will come from the possible aquatic programs while 41 percent of the revenue will be from daily admissions and memberships. The other 10 percent of revenue will be from facility rentals.

An indoor pool isn’t the only option for the donated $800,000, and if no entity comes forward, it will be used for something else relating to the rec center.

“Conversely, if the community support for the indoor pool does not materialize, the board will entertain other ideas for the use of the Autenreith donation to improve the community services of the Greene County Community Center,” the press release said.

The parks board did not set a timeline to determine a project lead, hoping interest does come forth in the near future. Likewise, Hammen said the donated money doesn’t have a pre-determined deadline either. The city can take its time and more forward with the initiative they see fit.

“There is no urgent need that we have to use the money, time is on our side,” the parks director said. “We can see if it continues to develop. We are going to feel the community out. We are looking for the next move.”
The Jefferson Parks and Rec board encourages the public to direct inquiries to director@gcccjefferson.com so they can be passed on to board members.