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Martin city pool closed for business

Martin city pool closed for business

While it was a difficult decision for the City of Martin to forever close its municipal swimming pool, Martin Mayor Randy Brundige said financial reasons played a major role in the decision.
It was last year when the city assessed its budget and deemed it necessary to close the 30-year-old swimming pool.
Brundige said it cost the city $24,000-$30,000 each year to keep the pool open during the summer months and provide needed maintenance throughout the year. With new federal regulations in place, getting the pool in compliance would be a major undertaking, according to the mayor.
“It has outlived its life expectancy. We have been holding it together with bailing wire and new regulations would require us to change the drains, along with other projects to comply. This would be a huge financial undertaking for the city,” Brundige said.
The mayor said the prospect of the splash pad in downtown Martin would offer heat relief in the summer.
Brundige said the city is hopeful the project would be complete by June 1.
Another option for would-be swimmers is the indoor heated pool on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Brundige said the rates at UT Martin are consistent with the city’s swim fees and people can still host pool and birthday parties at the campus’ pool.
The indoor swimming pool is open throughout the year and offers summer passes to visitors.
“We didn’t want to leave our residents high and dry and with the upcoming splash pad and the college’s pool, there are still options for our residents,” Brundige said.
Martin was the only city in Weakley County that maintained a city swimming pool.

WCP 2.02.12