Recorder Melissa Elam gave her opinion on Jackson Park pool at the Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by James Dobbs)

VIENNA — Vienna City Council met on Thursday to vote on the closing of the Jackson Park pool for the 2022 pool season.

Recorder Melissa Elam said an engineer recently came by to check on the pool. She said he had some major concerns with the brackets that hold the concrete up. He also mentioned that the pool was in pretty bad shape, but could hold up for another year before it needed to be fixed, she said.

“I’m willing to close it for this year, just this year, and … I’m very optimistic that we can have a great pool ready to open next year,” said Elam.

She said the city could provide alternate sources of entertainment for kids during the day.

“I think as a parent, I’m not comfortable with my kids going to Jackson as it is right now,” she said. “And I think we can do a whole lot better, and our community deserves a great pool.”

Mayor Randy Rapp shared pictures that were taken during the inspection of the Jackson Park pool at the Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by James Dobbs)

Council member Roger Bibbee said he didn’t want to see the pool closed for the 2022 season, but believes that it is the best decision. He said he’s hopeful that the city of Vienna will have the pool back up and running in the 2023 season.

Mayor Randy Rapp shared pictures of the pool inspection that were taken earlier in the week. He said he would probably vote for the pool to stay open, but changed his opinion after seeing pictures taken underneath the channel where all the plumbing and all of the electrical wiring happens. He said there are some concerning areas underneath the pool that definitely need to be fixed.

Council voted unanimously to close Jackson Park pool for the 2022 pool season.

In other business, council read a resolution to approve the 2022 to 23 general fund and coal severance budgets. The budget included a pay increase of $1.65 for all full-time employees, including the $0.35 longevity for a pay raise of $2. Council made an amendment to give a $2 increase to all part-time non-seasonal employees, because they would not receive the longevity raise since they are not full-time. The amendment and the resolution passed unanimously.

Jack Mathers, with the Friends of Vienna, gave a presentation about the Freedom Festival.

“We want to have a safe, fun, family event and most of all celebrate our independence,” he said.

Mathers said there will be a big car show, a concert featuring Home Free, hot air balloons, rides, fireworks and more.. He said the event will be between July 2-3 and will happen at the Grand Central Mall. Home Free will take stage at 8:30 p.m. on July 2.

Don Dearth with the Marine Corps League of Wood County presented a plaque to Rapp and the City of Vienna. He said they were able to use the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in Spencer’s Landing to display their flags for heroes in 2021. He said the league will host a car show on May 14 at Spencer’s Landing.

Bibbee said the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department would be having its Ice Cream Social this year on June 10.

James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com