Aikens noted the bubble is worn out and said it doesn’t make sense to spend $25,000 on a dated cover. A bid of about $115,000 was taken from Arizon.
 

Lenoir City budget committee met earlier this month and agreed to commit half of the cost if the BOE funded half.
 

“I realize the argument there, how many Lenoir Citians are using the pool and swim team, but it gives the kids something to do and be involved and if we’re helping one child to stay out of trouble I think it’s worth it. And that’s not a political statement,” Aikens said. “Being 39 years in law enforcement I know how it works. You’ve got to keep these — and I know the school board realizes this, all these parents and kids, you’ve got to keep them active and busy and involved and but I just wanted to make that statement that we still are committed to half of the money.”
 

Robert Scheffer, co-manager of the LCHS swim team, spoke on behalf of the team. The team has taken at least one swimmer to the state swim meet every year since 2004.
 

“If this were football, basketball, baseball make it to the state meet one year this school system would do whatever it took to keep that success going,” Scheffer said. “Our swim team has produced a state champion, an NCAA championship finalist, Pan American gold medalist and the only Olympic gold medal winner in Lenoir City history, Claire Donahue.”
 

Scheffer noted the group was about more than just the “elite swimmer.”
 

“Having the pool located so close to the school allows our swimmers to be better student-athletes,” Scheffer said. “If they were having to drive to UT every evening for practices it would greatly cut into their study time.
 

“... This is a great program for student-athletes and I would hate to see it come to an end due to political differences of opinion, and, yes, I believe there’s a good chance it could come to an end due to a lack of pool availability in the greater Knoxville area,” he added. “The cost and availability of pool time would be more than our swim parents could handle. How much money does the school board spend every year on other sports programs in coaching supplements, equipment maintenance of facilities, etc.?”

Scheffer referenced a new gym floor and bleachers for basketball, a new wall for baseball and football field maintenance.

“If these sports are worth the investment, then how can you sit there and say that swimming is not worth the investment when it has been the most successful sports program the last 20 years?” Scheffer asked.
 

If the BOE doesn’t work with the city to replace the bubble, Scheffer asked the board budget $7,500 each year to offset costs for pool time and transportation to and from the University of Tennessee.
 

“We own the stadium and the gymnasium and the baseball fields, but we don’t own a swimming pool,” Glenn McNish, school board member, said after the meeting. “... Just sitting here and looking at their faces how sad they looked, certainly your empathize with them. I feel for them. Of course, we offered an alternative plan to the mayor’s office for an in lieu of rain tax for three years for us to use that money to fund the cover, but that offer was turned down by the mayor’s office.”
 

McNish received several letters from youth requesting the BOE fund the bubble. He was surprised to find several came from students who don’t attend Lenoir City Schools.
 

He worried funding the swim club’s request could be a slippery slope.
 

“That was the example our attorney gave us was, ‘OK, you give the swim club this. What are you going to do next year if the bass club asks you for a new boat and new fishing gear for all their club members?’” McNish said. “He said you’d pretty much have to do it or you’d be setting yourself up for a lawsuit.”