The Plymouth City Council members opened a public hearing Monday night concerning an additional appropriation, or the authority to spend money in the East Laporte Street Footbridge Fund, for the East Laporte Street Historic Footbridge project in the amount of $315,000. There were no public comments submitted during that portion of the hearing.
The other portion of the public hearing dealt with an additional appropriation, or the authority to spend money out of the Rainy Day Fund, of an amount up to $150,000 to spend on other services and charges, specifically for operations at the Susan D. Bardwell Aquatic Center.
The money is needed as the entity that was to handle the facility’s operations reportedly backed out of the obligations. Contingency funds built into the initial construction project are being used, but it will not last past March which prompted the additional appropriation request.
Councilman Greg Compton commented that he did not want the entire $150,000 appropriated toward the operations. He thought $15,000 could get the facility through the first month and then approach officials who are also connected to the project, like the Plymouth Community School Corporation and Ancilla College, to possibly step in and help with some of the costs until a more long-term solution is found.
He also thought that the additional appropriation should be re-advertised to specify the use of the money. The legal notice said the request of Rainy Day Fund money would be used for “other services and charges” and he thought it should be advertised as money to be spent toward operations of the Aquatic Center.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi explained that the additional appropriation was properly advertised and was worded as it should be, but this topic was at a heightened public interest.
Councilman Robert Listenberger thought the entire $150,000 should be appropriated to take care of the rest of the year and figure out a plan with the funding aspect decided.
Councilman Jeff Houin noted there is not a requirement that all of the appropriated money be spent, but it would be available to act as a support to get past this rough patch.
Council members Duane Culp, Shiloh Milner, and Randy Longanecker all mentioned that people have talked to them about the proposal and spoke of possible operations in the future.
Three members of the public spoke during the hearing. Leanne Senter, who has been the acting manager at the facility, said there are 25 regular customers at the facility with over 100 swim team and Sharks members, other swim teams requesting to rent the pool, and several paid members of the facility. They will be working toward a marketing strategy soon, but she stressed it will take some time to get revenues going, especially coming off of a year that experienced a pandemic.
Gil Martin supported the additional appropriation request and Ryan Schaffer added that he hopes a long-term solution can be found quickly.
In the end, the council members unanimously voted to approve the East Laporte Street Historic Footbridge additional appropriation.
Councilman Greg Compton made a motion to approve $50,000 for the Aquatic Center operations, but the motion was amended to raise that to $75,000. The amendment was approved with a 5-1 vote with Compton opposed. A new motion with the $75,000 amount was made which did pass with a unanimous vote.
