Urbanna asks county for aid building pool

Supervisors appear lukewarm on idea to help fund $1.2 million Taber project

by Tom Chillemi –

At the supervisors Sept. 13 regular monthly meeting, Urbanna Mayor Barbara Hartley and volunteer Marni Harte made a detailed presentation, including the cost of a $1.2 million pool.

Some supervisors appeared lukewarm to the idea of spending money on a pool, even though Hartley said the town would pay for operation and maintenance.

She noted that the Urbanna pool was used for swimming lessons and swim meets, including for competitive swimmers from the Ricky Taylor Memorial Community Swimming Pool in Deltaville, which is not the correct layout for competition.

Fees & Financing

The Urbanna pool committee has come up with a draft of fees and funding ideas.

The town’s presentation outlined a funding plan that calls for fund raising and donations of $100,000, grants of $50,000, and $250,000 in “charter memberships.”

Charter memberships would be a lump sum payment made before construction providing “seed money,” according to the town’s presentation. Charter memberships would be $12,000 for Urbanna residents. A county charter membership would be $15,000. A business charter membership would cost $25,000. Charter members would get unlimited lifetime pool passes.

Season passes for Urbanna families would be $200 and, $400 for out-of-town residents.
A day pass for up to six people would be $12 for Urbanna residents, and $25 for those living out of town.

Question

Saluda District Supervisor Don Harris questioned the difference in prices between in town and out-of-town residents. The difference in price is because town residents will continue to pay taxes for annual pool expenses of $80,000, replied Harte. Pool revenue is estimated at $87,000 annually, which includes $25,000 from tax money.