COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Browne Aquatic Center will be getting some financial help from Branch County.
The Branch County Board of Commissioners suspended work session rules Thursday morning and approved annual minimum payments of $25,000 over 10 years that would go into a sinking fund managed by Coldwater Schools for future major repairs at the Aquatic Center.
In return, there would be a uniformed rate for all County residents at both the Aquatic Center and City of Coldwater recreational services. The first payment would be in the County’s 2025 budget.
Coldwater Mayor Tom Kramer and Coldwater Community School District Board of Education President Doctor Ed Lake presented a plan to Commissioners to help fund the Aquatic Center. It was revealed earlier this summer that the operation of the pool was in the red by over $300,000 per year.
It is owned by the City of Coldwater, with operation and maintenance handled by the school district.
Lake told Commission Chair Tim Stoll more county residents would use the pool under this plan.
The proposals included an annual $125,000 payment from the Robert Browne Trust to Coldwater Schools and a pledge from the trust to fund up to $1-point-1 million of needed repairs to the Aquatic Center.
The City of Coldwater would also make a $25,000 payment into a sinking fund managed by Coldwater Schools for future major repairs. This would be in addition to the $50,000 the City already contributes to the school district to allow City residents to receive a lower rate to use the Aquatic Center.
In addition, the city and the school district would provide funds to hire a dedicated aquatic director to run and promote the facility.
A citizens committee would also be established which would provide guidance, direction and monitoring of the aquatic director.
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