During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the future of swim fees at the Aquatic Center, focusing on lane rentals and membership pricing. Miss Carmichael opened the session by emphasizing the urgency of finalizing the fees, as many swimmers are eager to begin their activities.

The meeting clarified that while youth swim sessions have been free for Spalding County residents through June 30, 2025, this introductory offer will not continue indefinitely. Instead, the county plans to revert to standard pricing, which has raised concerns about potential backlash from the community regarding perceived price increases.

The Parks and Leisure Advisory Commission proposed a fee structure for lane rentals, recommending $25 per lane hour for in-county users and $40 for out-of-county users. However, discussions revealed that local swim teams, such as the Griffin Gators and Griffin Spalding Schools, may not incur these fees due to existing agreements that allow for shared use of facilities. This has sparked debate about fairness, particularly regarding private school teams and their access to the same benefits.

Officials also reviewed monthly membership rates, proposing a reduction from $64 to $40 for individual memberships, with additional members at a lower rate. The rationale behind these adjustments is to align with competitive pricing in the market, although some officials expressed concerns that even the revised rates may be too high compared to local gym memberships.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to further evaluate the proposed fees and to consider a more flexible pricing strategy that encourages higher participation rates. Officials plan to revisit the fee structure based on community feedback and usage patterns, aiming to strike a balance between accessibility and revenue generation for the Aquatic Center.