A motion to establish a Capital Project Ordinance Fund for the construction of a community pool in Kernersville passed unanimously at Wednesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting after one resident voiced his opposition to the project.
“We do this with most capital projects that we have that expand over more than one budget cycle,” said Town Manager Curtis Swisher. “As you all know, the budget for fiscal year 24-25 is approved and it included the $10.8 million in funding for the pool. So we’re simply establishing the capital project and it will allow us to carry it over however many budget cycles are necessary to complete the pool.”
Prior to the vote, Dean Vogt addressed the board with a number of concerns. The self-described “fan of pools” said he and his sons are avid swimmers and lifeguards, though he noted that there are already several options for Kernersville residents looking for a place to swim.
“So I find it really hard to believe that there’s pent-up demand by our citizens for such a pool,” he said. “If there was … I feel like the private sector would have already stepped in well before now.”
Vogt called on city leaders to take one of three approaches: “outright reject” the measure, “delay the effort to fund this pool until a … viable proposal has been delivered that would enable the pool to pay for itself,” or “put the matter to a vote.”
Alderman John Barrow provided a response to Vogt’s remarks, noting that Kernersville Parks and Recreation questionnaires consistently show that locals favor the construction of a community pool.
He noted that the YMCA previously filled the role of a community pool, but that was no longer an “ideal facility to fully service all the people of Kernersville.”
While Barrow noted that the investment should result in a pool that lasts generations, he could not provide specifics to Vogt’s question about whether the project would “pay for itself.”
Mayor Dawn Morgan interjected to move the meeting ahead, clarifying the measure before putting it to a vote.
“So this is something for our finance department that will allow us to later fund the objectives we already set forth in the budget,” she said. “Even though it’s not actually getting the loan for the money, it’s setting up the measures in the finance for us to do this.”
Barrow made a motion in favor of establishing the fund, which was seconded by Bill Apple and supported by the rest of the board.
Watch the full exchange from Wednesday’s meeting below:
Copyright 2024 Informed Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without express written consent.
scopenewsonline.com 