Johnson City commissioners make headway on Freedom Hall Pool solution

After being faced with new options, Johnson City commissioners have endorsed city staff in opening up bids to repair the now-closed Freedom Hall Pool. Assistant City Manager Steve Willis presented to commissioners refreshed cost estimates for repairs to the existing, structurally problematic pool alongside the same figures to build a new multiphase aquatics center. During the board's work session Thursday, Willis said he and other city staff worked with the same architect firm and design company that originally estimated these costs months ago. "They're very adamant that the solution that they have provided to remediate those conditions and shore up the underbelly of that pool is the most economical option that we have and it is the right option," Willis said of the latest repair estimates. Since its 2025 assessment, architect firm Cain Rash West (CRW) and Spoden and Wilson Engineering provided a new $771,000 repair estimate based on the pool's current conditions, which doesn't include 10% in contingency costs the city would consider for unexpected work. However, Willis explained, a 10% contingency may not cover unexpected issues that arise after work would begin on the pool. "I want to emphasize the fact that these are estimates," Willis said. "Recognizing you're dealing with a 50-year-old asset, there are things that they can't predict, just from what they can see with the naked eye." Commissioners Todd Fowler and Joe Wise both expressed their support for staff to go ahead with the bidding process, which does not require official approval from the board. "I would suggest we go ahead with bids and we make a decision after we know for sure how much the work costs that need to be done," Fowler said. If the city puts out a request for bids now and the commission decides to approve a contract for repairs, the pool could reopen early next year if all goes smoothly, according to Willis. These repairs could extend the pool's lifespan by more than a decade. If the commission does not deem any of the bids for repairs worth the price, commissioners will explore revenue options to build a new aquatics center that will take several years to complete construction. Willis also provided the board with detailed yearly debt issuance and interest accrual estimates for three different types of aquatics facility options, each ranging in total principal costs from $25 to $37 million. After two months of advocacy and uncertainty, Johnson City Schools Swim Coach Chris Coraggio said after the updates Thursday, he feels confident and hopeful that the city is working toward a solution for the aquatics community. "I think Steve Willis did an outstanding job," Coraggio said. "It was factual, it was transparent, it brought everybody up to speed on what had been done. I think the staff did an excellent job of doing their due diligence as requested by the city commission." "I think once we get the bids in and see how they compare to the [repair] estimate — that will be the next hurdle that we'll have to overcome," Coraggio said.