By George Andreassi

STUART — It looks like Martin County commissioners are poised to dive into the swimming pool and water park business.

Four commissioners said they anticipate awarding a $8.7 million contract to Bayview Construction of Port Salerno on Tuesday to construct the much-anticipated Aquatics Complex at Willoughby Boulevard and Ruhnke Street.

A 50-meter competition pool with four diving boards is expected to attract swimming and diving teams, while a lazy river and kiddie pool should bring in families, and a learn-to-swim pool will be used for lessons as well as physical therapy and water aerobics.

Four commissioners said they are willing to undertake the project despite the recession because construction prices have gone down significantly and the business plan formulated by parks officials and volunteers shows the facility could support itself financially.

“I am satisfied that they have a very decent shot at running a profitable operation,” said Commissioner Patrick Hayes. “I absolutely do think they should start as soon as possible because it’s going to employ people.”

If commissioners award the contract Tuesday, construction could start by this spring and be completed by next spring, county officials said.

But Commissioner Sarah Heard, who is often the lone dissenter on commission votes, said the project is too ambitious and should be scaled back to a community pool.

“This project has morphed into something that is going to be very difficult for me to support,” Heard said. “It’s just too big, it’s too expensive. I thought that what we needed was a community pool. I didn’t envision that we were going to fund — with tax dollars — a theme park. We can’t afford it.”

Heard also questioned whether the Aquatics Complex would be able to generate $493,250 per year in admissions and $425,000 annually from food sales at the concession stand to help cover more than $1 million in yearly operating costs.

“There are very rosy forecasts about revenues that frankly don’t look realistic to me,” Heard said.

The Martin County Taxpayers Association also expressed concerns about whether the Aquatics Complex would be able to support itself. But it is conditionally supporting the project because it will be built on county-owned land with sales tax money that can only be used for new parks projects, among other reasons.

“Our lingering concern is whether the county can adequately maintain the facility without further taxpayer support,” said Don Pickard, president of the taxpayers association.

Several Martin County business leaders said they support the Aquatics Complex because they believe it will provide an economic boost, particularly for local restaurants and hotels that will be patronized by swimming and diving teams from outside the area.

“I support it 100 percent because it’s going to bring in economic development, which we very badly need, and sports tourism,” said Ron Rose, executive director of the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce and a member of the county’s Tourist Development Council.

Commissioners Ed Ciampi, Susan Valliere and Doug smith also said they want to undertake the Aquatics Complex project.

“I am supportive of it and have been for the nine-plus years that I’ve been doing this,” said Smith, the commission chairman. “It’s clearly a very difficult time to be talking about doing something like this. But at the same time, people do need the work, and we’re seeing prices like we’ve never seen on projects we’ve put out to bid.”

Estimated revenue and expenses for Martin County’s proposed Aquatics Complex

Projected revenue

General admissions: $493,250

Team rentals: $18,000

School district rentals: $54,00

Competition rentals: $27,500

Complete facility rentals: $20,000

Lesson revenue: $71,010

Party rental: $42,000

Concession gross revenue: $425,000

Advertising, annual sponsorships: $25,000

University rentals: $45,000

Locker rentals, diaper sales: $5,000

Water aerobics and therapy: $22,500

Total projected revenue: $1,199,660

Expenses

Cost of goods for concession stand: $148,750

Total labor: $534,394

Communications/cell phones: $3,600

Contractual services: $40,000

Chemicals: $52,000

Dues and subscriptions: $1,000

Electricity: $127,000

Freight & postage: $250

Fuel/gas: $12,000

Insurance: $75,000

Janitorial services: $1,000

Landscape maintenance: $3,000

Office supplies: $500

Operating supplies: $10,000

Other equipment: $5,000

Printing & binding: $5,000

Promotional advertising: $5,000

Repairs & maintenance: $30,000

Safety supplies: $2,500

Training-seminar registrations: $2,500

Trash disposal: $2,500

Uniforms: $5,000

Utilities water: $7,000

Total expenses: $1,072,994

Capital reserve fund: $100,000

Net profit: $26,666

Martin County’s Aquatics Complex will offer a variety of features:

Location: Northeast corner of Willoughby Boulevard and Ruhnke Street

Heated and chilled 50-meter competition pool with diving well

Heated six-lane 25 yard “Learn-to-swim” pool

750-foot long, 11-foot wide “Lazy river” pool with water toys

7,200 square foot wading pool with play structures and water toys

Two four-story high winding water slides

Dry playground

Shaded picnic and family areas

Large pool deck with furniture and shade umbrellas

8,000-square-foot building with offices, first aid room, control room, cafe, indoor seating, locker rooms, family changing rooms, rest rooms and multipurpose rooms

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