DECATUR — On April 9, Decatur City Council members will have to decide whether or not to keep the city swimming pool open this summer, and they are asking for community feedback.

A new regulation under the Americans with Disabilities Act requires all public pools to be fully handicapped accessible, including a chair lift to assist handicapped people getting in or out of the water.

The cost could be more than $5,000, although Decatur Mayor Charles Linam is looking for less expensive options and has applied for a $3,000 grant to help pay for the lift.

At the February meeting, city council members voted no to purchasing the lift, effectively closing the pool, but that was before they knew the grant was available.

Council members have also voiced concerns about the operating costs of the pool, which are estimated to be $6,000 a year and have been as high as $10,000.

Some feel the cost is too high in a year in which the budget is tight. Others feel it is a valuable service to the community, especially the children.

The council visited the issue again at the March meeting and the decision was tabled to give the community time to respond.

Several petitions have been circulated, with more than 80 signatures collected as of last week, but it would be nice to see some community members attend Monday’s city council meeting to voice their opinions, either for or against the pool.

So what do you, the reader, think? Is the pool worth the cost? Does it benefit local children and provide a vital service? Or, is it a drain on public money?

This is your chance to speak up and voice your opinion. The council will meet to discuss the issue at 6 p.m., April 9, at city hall.

Janelle Jessen is a reporter for the Westside Eagle Observer and a longtime resident of the Decatur area. She may be contacted by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 6 on 04/04/2012