Marietta City Council's lands, buildings and parks committee agreed to contract once again with Professional Pool Management, owned by Lowell resident Mike Bishman, to operate the Marietta Aquatic Center during the 2012 season.
City safety-service director Jonathan Hupp said there were five bids submitted for the contract, including three from firms located in Atlanta, Ga. The two local bids were from Professional Pool Management and the Marietta Family YMCA.
The Atlanta bids, from Pool Management, Inc., Aquatic Management, Inc., and USA Pools, were $141,850, $145,680, and $143,890, respectively.
The YMCA bid was $184,550, and Bishman's bid $164,946.
"The administration believes we should enter into a contract with Mr. Bishman," Hupp said. "Although that bid is more than the Atlanta firms, it is still less than the $171,800 allocation council budgeted for the pool management this year."
In addition, Hupp said the city was not familiar with the Atlanta pool operators, and it was not certain how those firms would be able to maintain adequate supervision over management of the aquatic center from Georgia.
Councilman Michael Mullen, I-at large, noted Professional Pool Management operated the local facility last year and the aquatic center finished the year with a profit of approximately $110,000.
Legislation formally approving Professional Pool Management's contract will be introduced during Thursday's council meeting.
