The Troy City Council on Monday approved a resolution to declare an emergency for the replacement of the air control unit for the indoor pool at the Troy Recreation Center. 

According to Troy Building Official Chuck Ingram and Troy Parks and Recreation Director Dan Smith, the current 19-year-old air control unit has gone as far as it can go.

“I’ve worked with Dan the last couple of years to keep it patched and cleaned up and done everything we can to keep it operating and and, at this point, there is nothing further we can do,” Ingram told the council. 

The air control unit is used to dehumidify and purify the air in the indoor pool area of any chemicals that are used for the maintenance of the pool. Both Smith and Ingram emphasized to the council that there was no health concerns with the state of the air control unit as the roll-up doors can be used until a new unit is installed.

The problem would come with not replacing it. The city cannot wait to do it as the production of an air control unit takes up to 40 weeks and then it must be installed. If the pool stayed in use with the doors closed, for that amount of time, it would badly damage the facility at the Troy Recreation Center.

“It would decrease the lifespan of the gym building 10 years in one year,” Ingram flatly said.

Without replacing the unit, the indoor pool would simply have to be shutdown. The resolution was unanimously passed to replace the unit in an amount that will not exceed $439,617.60. That cost includes the disposal of the old unit and installation of the new unit by Extreme Heating and Air from Highland Home. 

The indoor pool at the Rec Center will remain open, with rollup doors opened to ventilate the area, until the new unit is installed. 

The council also approved a resolution to enter into a contract agreement for an audit to stay in compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The cost of the service contract is $3,800.

Mayor Jason Reeves closed the meeting by wishing condolences to the family of Chip Wallace, who recently passed away.

“We lost a really good citizen in Chip Wallace,” Reeves said. “Most municipalities did business with Wallace Pump & Supply, which is between here and Brundidge. Chip was a radio personality with the ‘Coach’s Corner’ on WTB and he was just a nice fellow. Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to his family. He will be missed.”