For young people, the local public pool equals free time and most of all, fun. Swain County’s public pool has been helping kids embrace fun since it was built in the 1970s. Now, Swain County Board of Commissioners has approved a plan for a major upgrade that should keep it in action for years to come.
A new layout for the pool and a funding plan received unanimous approval by the board at their regular meeting on Aug. 13.
James Douthit, with the recreation park advisory committee, spoke before the commissioners. “We settled on option 2 as a recommendation of the renovation of the pool itself,” he said.
The county is moving forward with replacing the current pool that has had ongoing drainage issues for years. The replacement will be built in the same footprint but will be a gunite pool, a concrete blend, opposed to the current liner.
This design plan includes a zero entry for the pool that will start at the current shallow end and slowly slope to five-feet of water depth. The only change recommended by the committee is the deep end to go from 12 feet to 10 instead of 8 feet, particularly as the slides will stay. One of the needs to fix drainage issues is to reduce the weight or amount of water in that section of the pool. Other repairs for the project include fixing some plumbing issues. Swimming lanes will be moved to the far side of the pool to make room for beach entry, creating a pool in a pool.
“This pool will be a great addition to the county,” he said, adding that it will extend the life of the pool and also make it accessible to more people. The zero-entry has long been a need, he said.
The commissioners unanimously approved moving forward and the county will begin the process of requests for proposals. The hope is to have work begin this winter to have it open in May 2021.
The county received $100,000 in a grant from the Nantahala Health Foundation to help cover the cost of the project estimated to total $380,000. The grant funding must be spent by the end of the year. The commissioners have also agreed to make a request to the Swain County Tourism and Development Authority to pitch in $50,000 for the pool project.
“I’d like us to work close with the committee on any changes,” said commissioner Danny Burns.
County Manager Kevin King said there was also an interest in extending one section of the pool by 7 feet so that it would meet regulation size to host swimming competitions. “We’ve asked the engineer to look at that to meet that expansion other than that it would be in the current footprint,” King said on Friday.
Extended hours
Also on a recommendation from the recreation park committee, the commissioners approved extended the season for the public pool through the end of October this year as weather permits.
The pool opened a bit later this year due to COVID-19. Social distancing measures keep the pool capacity at 50 percent. This is the 42nd season for the Swain County rec park pool.
“We discussed COVID-19 and the stress factor on parents and kids,” Douthit said. “They need some way to relieve this pressure.”
He suggested extended the pool to be open through Oct. 31 on Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays. He added Recreation Park Director Jim Brown conveyed that there would be “no problem with staffing and lifeguards” to cover the extended season.
Hours will be Wednesday and Saturday with adult lap swim from 10 – 11 a.m.; open swim from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and open swim from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Each open swim session will be limited to 50 people.
On Sunday adult lap swim will be form 11 a.m. to noon; open swim will be from noon to 2 p.m., and from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Each open swim session will be limited to 50 people.
In addition, the committee recommended waiving the pool entry fee in September and October, which is just $2 for a 3-hour block of time.
The committee also requested that the playgrounds be opened as soon as it is possible. Playgrounds remain closed under Gov. Roy Cooper’s extension of Phase 2 of social distancing. It was noted that the day camp program was able to use the playground when it was open under the regulations, however, under the state order.
The commissioner unanimously approved extending the pool’s season and waiving the entry fee.
For questions about the pool, call the recreation park at 488-6160.
Tax issue
In other actions, the commissioners:
• Approved budget amendment 1 totaling $414,000. Included in the amendment is $157,000 to the Sheriff’s Department to replace two vehicles that were in wrecks (covered by insurance), new Viper radios and additional COVID related expenses; $200,000 to Emergency Management to cover COVID related expenses; $57,000 for Elections for COVID expenses. Revenues include $65,000 in insurance claims and $25,000 from the Governors Crime Commission for the expenses at the Sheriff’s Department; and $324,000 for COVID expenses with federal funds through the Help America Vote Act funded through CARES initiative as well.
In a related matter, King reported that the county is looking into adding a commercial kitchen for the Senior Center.
“We’ve had an increase from about 40 to 240 people for Meals on Wheels,” he said, since the coronavirus pandemic hit.
• Tabled a request from Marvin Grant regarding property taxes and a request to cover a legal fee of $1,459 that could threaten him being able to retain ownership. Grant has been making payments on two properties that he owed back taxes on.
• Approved the Marianna Black Library report as presented by Library Jeff Delfield
• Approved the tax collector’s monthly report as presented by Peggy Hyde
The board also heard from Joseph “Gunner” Vasquez during public comment who said law enforcement should be supported and fully funded, pointed out that many of the officers are underpaid.
During reports, Chairman Ben Bushyhead and King reported on continued discussions with North Carolina Department of Transportation to address road issues in the county.
The next Swain County Board of Commissioners meeting will be tonight (Thursday, Aug. 27) at 6 p.m. at the Swain County Administration Building, 50 Main Street, in the third floor auditorium. Social distancing measures will be in place. The meeting is also available to view live on the county’s Youtube link, which can be linked to through the county’s website at swaincountync.gov.