MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — The future of a new aquatics center was up for discussion at a public work session with the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners Monday night.

The future of the center will be determined over the course of three votes from city commissioners. The work session primarily focused on the bond that will go into building the 40,000-square-foot center. As of publication, the bond is between $11.4- and $14 million.

If approved, the plan will have two phases. The first phase would include construction on the gym and pool. The second phase would include construction on outdoor pickleball and volleyball courts as well as the parking lot.

Rocky Lee, director of the Mt. Juliet Parks & Recreation Department, presented a plan for maintaining the facility's operation and plans to discuss it more within the next two budget cycle meetings. Also up for discussion has been membership, which would help generate revenue that could go toward maintenance.

Jennifer Milele, District 4 Mt. Juliet City Commissioner, said that she hopes the bond gets pushed through so that phase one can be complete soon.

"This needs to happen, it's in high demand," Milele said. "Our community center is too small. We have one volleyball court, and it has to rotate around several schedules."

The bond would be funded by a hotel/motel tax, which wold allow the City of Mt. Juliet to pay back $1 million each year for the next 20 years. If the bond is approved, then bids will go out. However, if commissioners do not approve the bond, decisions would have to be made about section priorities.

“The only other alternative would be to only build the gym and later build the inside pool, which I don’t want," Milele said. "To me, phase one is the gym and the pool. It’s a package deal.”

The vote will go before the city commission in June for budget approval. Milele is looking forward to a possible opening date in 2027. 

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/mt-juliet-aquatics-center-bond-approval/