Cobb Employees' Free Aquatic Center Use Questioned

Northeast Cobb resident Jeffrey Todd is concerned about Cobb County employees and their families having free unlimited use of all Cobb County aquatic centers. As a patron of the Mountain View Aquatic Center and a county property owner, he thinks that this is an outrage, especially in light of what Board of Commissioners Chairman Tim Lee has called the toughest budget times he has ever seen in the county. 

Cobb provides four indoor aquatic centers that are open year-round and outdoor seasonal pools at two locations.

Todd wrote in a letter to Commissioners Tim Lee and JoAnn Birrell, "If the usage fees charged at the aquatic centers are so inconsequential, why not make them free for all Cobb County residence as well? Certainly you wouldn’t want to treat Cobb County employees better than the Cobb County taxpayers. After all, we’re not in Wisconsin."

He also asked Birrell in the letter if she voted for, or approved of, Cobb employees and their families having free, unlimited use of all Cobb County aquatic centers. 

In an email reply Apri 8, Birrell wrote, "Employees have had access to the aquatic centers, at no charge, for many years. It is unknown when that access was granted. A few years ago wellness initiatives were promoted by the County’s Human Resources department. In response, a few employees contacted their fellow employees and several of the Commissioners. These employees wanted to know why immediate family members were not included in the wellness initiatives. After calculating the financial impacts of this change, it was discovered that there were no direct costs associated with this change. As a result, employees and their immediate family members were authorized to participate in the wellness initiatives."

According to Birrell, health care costs for the county have increased year over year. Those costs have been especially felt this year because of the revenue shortfall that led to .

Todd would like to know how Northeast Cobb neighbors feel about this issue. Should Cobb County employees and their families have unlimited use of county aquatic centers?

You can reply to Jeff Todd, or share your opinion, in the Comment Box below.