Freedom Hall Pool has served Johnson City families since 1974. For decades, it has been a place where kids learn to swim, teams train and compete, and our community comes together. Its closure on April 3 raises serious questions about planning, priorities, and impact.
I understand that the building has reached the end of its lifespan. But families now contemplate long drives across town. Swim teams are left scrambling for space. And Memorial Park Community Center is expected to absorb a major influx. Residents deserve clear answers: Can Memorial Park truly handle this demand? Why were we only looking at major repairs 51 years into the building’s life? Where was the long-term facilities plan a decade ago?
Last summer, during the city’s budget review process, I publicly asked how the Commission planned to refill its reserves to prepare for critical needs. This is exactly what I was talking about. Instead of a clear plan, I received deflective responses. Today, with more than $30 million in reserves gone due to legal settlements, the cost of not planning ahead is clear. Waiting until a facility reaches a crisis point is not responsible stewardship.
Johnson City deserves stronger long-term planning, disciplined financial management, and decisions that put families first. If elected to the City Commission, I will push for transparent capital planning, realistic reserve policies, and clear timelines for replacing aging facilities before they fail.
Our kids, our families, and our community deserve leadership that plans ahead and delivers. I’m asking for your support to bring that leadership to the Johnson City Commission.
