Probably the most interesting conversation at the Decatur City Commission meeting last night came about as the $151,750 annual contract with Dynamo Pool Services for the 2012 pool season.

The report from Active Living’s Jabari Cole noted that the pools took in a little more than $163,000 this past year from pool admissions fees.  This was actually $12,000 over the amount of last year’s contract with Dynamo, meaning the pools actually MADE money this past year, which according to City Manager Peggy Merriss is nearly unheard of in the world of city pool budgeting.  According to a comment from Mr. Cole, 65% is usually seen as a good return on pool funding.

That’s the good news.  The other side of the coin?

The pools are at capacity most of the year, especially at McKoy.  “I’m getting comments from citizens of Decatur that the pools are too crowded.”, Mr. Cole said at the meeting. He continued to confirm commissioner’s stated concerns, agreeing that “lots of people coming from outside the city to use our schools.”

Look for this issue to come up again soon, as both city staff and the commissioners were obviously quite concerned about overcrowding at Decatur’s public pools in the coming year.  Mr. Cole mentioned the lack of a price difference for daily passes for residents and non-residents, but worried about any sort of “enforcement”.

It looks like Decatur’s pools seem to be suffering the same fate of its popular school system.  Except they’re making some money in the process.

From City Commissioner Patti Garrett’s blog…

The tennis courts in Oakhurst Park are now available to city residents!

Thanks to Jabari Cole, Program Supervisor, Tennis and Aquatics, and to Assistant City Manager David Junger for making this happen. According to Jabari, combination locks have been installed on the courts, and if a resident would like to use a court all they need to do is call the tennis center (404-377-7231) to make sure the court is not scheduled and they will be given a code to open the court. The combination is changed frequently in order to manage the use of the courts. Jabari also indicated there is no charge for residents to use the courts. There should be a sign on the gate to the tennis court which explains the details and the telephone number to the tennis center.