MUELLER: Don’t forget funds to maintain aquatic center

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, September 20, 2023

In recent months, I have read articles in The Union-Recorder regarding grants for a proposed Aquatic Center. It seems that matching funds would be needed from the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners.

The Aquatic Center is a $5 million project. The recent article stated the majority of the money to build it is coming through a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

Looking back to 1974 when our family moved to Milledgeville, the local parks and recreation department expanded their facilities to the community by leaps and bounds. Later a number of those programs had to be eliminated.

Our children in the 1970s enjoyed the new public pool until one day I stepped into the restroom and shower area only to discover the neglect by staff regarding basic sanitation. A couple gallons of diluted bleach would have cleaned the very moldy shower curtains and dirty commodes.

I mention this history only to say that along with the construction of an Aquatic Center, there needs to be ongoing funds for staff and maintenance to keep the standards of sanitation acceptable for public use.

Regarding the need to use SPLOST funds, I think a higher priority for our area is the improvement of our roads. Pot holes are sometimes patched but remain a source of neglect.

Let’s get our priorities revised.

Arlene Mueller

Milledgeville