Tiger Sharks return to pool

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee Tiger Sharks swim team has seen a delay in getting in the water for the upcoming season. The wait is now over.

The City Pool was shut down due to issues with water leaks and chemical imbalances, but those problems have been resolved at least for now.

"We need the community to understand that the pool is not the only outdated structure we have in the city," Tallassee Parks and Recreation programs coordinator Courtney Thornton said. "There are a lot of outdated structures in the city."

The pool was built in the 1950s and has been having issues with leaks in recent years.

"We're doing the best we can to find ways to continue to use it or find another means of doing what we do," Thornton noted. "We're trying to figure things out. We have this pesky leak. Every time you put water in it, it throws the pH off."

The city has decided to use the pool only for Tiger Sharks training meaning that the pool will not be open to the rest of the public as usual in the summer months.

"We wanted to make sure the swim team had first dibs, so they could practice and compete. The rec program feeds Tiger Sharks. We need to have the pool available, but that's all we can do right now."

The closure of public swimming means that swim lessons are also off the table this year, a program that has been offered by the recreation department. Thornton hopes for a new pool in the near future.

"We need to strike up a campaign. I'd be willing to help. We'd love to see a new pool. Right now it's just not feasible."