Geneva Aquatic Center opens with splash

Geneva City Administrator Kyle Svec and Geneva Mayor Rod Norrie hold the ceremonial ribbon that Pool Committee members (L-R) Kristi Godown, Christin Lovegrove, Jean Engle, Alice Fangmeyer and Michelle Rayburn wait to cut on May 26 at the brand new Geneva Aquatic Center.

With a blast from a ceremonial gold whistle provided by the JEO Consulting Group, Inc., Geneva Mayor Rod Norrie officially opened the Geneva Aquatic Center at about 1 p.m., on Friday, May 26.  Soon after, more than 100 area youngsters were splashing, jumping, swimming, diving, shooting, hanging, sliding, etc., in the newest summer attraction around.
“I think this is the end of a huge commitment,” said Norrie prior to the official ribbon-cutting.  “I also commend the citizens of Geneva for achieving this.”
Norrie noted that Geneva residents voted to replace the aging city swimming pool with a new aquatic facility.  In October of 2015, voters passed a measure to add a one-half cent city sales tax to the city’s already 1.5-cent sales tax to make the payment on a pool bond.  The new city sales tax started in April of 2016.  Though the original bond amount for the project was $4.575 million, the finished aquatic center will carry a price tag more like $3.9 million.
Norrie told the 200-plus in attendance that the voters spoke, and this is what they got.  He also thanked the nine-member group who worked on the Pool Committee.  Committee member Christin Lovegrove talked.
“We knew this was something that was needed...Seeing this, makes it all worth it,” she said.
George Parris with JEO thanked the Geneva city staff for all their help on the project.
“Thank you citizens of Geneva for allowing us to work on this project with you,” Parris said.

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