Hopkinsville City Council will consider how to fund more repairs needed at Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center after learning in all likelihood the water park will not be opening for the 2022 season due to the length of time it will take to complete the project.
During the Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday night, City Grounds Maintenance Superintendent Blane Ezell presented a prioritized laundry list of needed items for the water park, including the estimated cost to repair a leak in the section of zero entry underneath the pool. He noted the repair would require removing the pool liner and concrete in that area with an estimated cost of $375,000. He said they also needed to include a 10 percent contingency for any unknown issues that may arise which would push the estimated cost to $412,500.
Pointing out the repair costs, Councilman Chuck Crabtree said that would mean the city has spent more than $900,000 for the water park since this past season and has less than $2 million to pay on the bond in a three-year time frame.
He strongly suggested they “bulldoze it down” and use that money for other departmental needs.
Councilman Tom Johnson disagreed. He said the enjoyment his grandchildren experience at the water park has changed his mind, and he doesn’t think razing it is the answer.
Councilwoman Alethea West stated she does not want to see it shut down because she thinks after the bond is paid off the water park will be beneficial in the long run.
After questions from Committee Chair Amy Craig about how the $400,000 could be funded if they moved forward with the repairs, Mayor Wendell Lynch said they could pull the money from the Reserves Fund. Chief Financial Officer Robert Martin added if they were talking about $1 million they could get a bond, but if it’s less than that amount they could take it from the Reserves Fund.
After more discussion, Councilman Steve Keel suggested maybe they could look into other ways to fund the repair project, perhaps by using ARPA funds or transfers from other programs.
Councilman Phillip Brooks said they needed to make a decision to try and salvage this season, however, Ezell dashed that hope and said the water park would not be opening in all likelihood.
During the discussion, Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tab Brockman said the water park draws about 60% of its visitors from out of town.
The committee voted 10-1 to forward the repairs to the city council for consideration with Crabtree casting the lone nay vote. Councilwoman Patricia Waddell-Bell was absent from the meeting.
