That's because in addition to Williams and Interbay pool in South Tampa having structural issues that have been in the news, three other city pools have been closed down this summer due to a variety of problems, most predominant being the need for anti-entrapment devices around their drains, as required by the federal government.
In Davis Islands, citizens are eager to get the Roy E. Jenkins pool back in use. The city has estimated the cost to repair that pool at $4 million, but residents say that includes some extra features that aren't needed, and they believe the true cost is around $2.5 million.
In any event, several of those citizens intend to speak before the City Council at their first of two scheduled public hearings on the Buckhorn proposed budget beginning this afternoon. Originally there was $6.5 million put in the budget for aquatics, but you can reduce that down to $5.3 million with the funds now earmarked for Williams pool.
The restoration of Jenkins pool has been a longtime goal for Davis Islands residents, who have on their own raised nearly half a million dollars of their own funds, according an article written by David Rice in the South Tampa Community News.
Rice writes that Davis Islands may have as much as $485,000 of funding available, between funds leftover from the transfer of property for the Tampa General Hospital parking garage and a trust fund that's been created.
And the community continues to do what they can to raise private funds, as well as raise awareness, which includes a major "Bluz & BBQ" event that will take place Saturday, October 15 at Curtis Hixon Park for free featuring six bands, including Damon Fowler closing out the night.
The Council will hear from the public tonight, and it will be interesting to see/hear if any speakers go off topic and discuss panhandling, which is not listed at all in the current budget, but will discussed yet again Thursday morning, with the possibility of the council voting on some sort of hybrid law, where they might allow for newspaper hawkers to do their thing, carving out an exception for them while banning panhandling for everyone else.
