By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - A community and recreation center with a 10-lane competitive swimming pool will cost the township $33.3 million, including buying 10 acres in Union Centre opposite Lakota West High School.

Trustees, who had estimated the cost at $25-$30 million, reviewed final financial projections Tuesday.

Another work session is likely before trustees decide May 25 - at the earliest - whether to build the indoor-outdoor aquatic center and multisport facility at Union Centre Boulevard and West Chester Road, said Trustee Jose Alvarez.

Trustees still have lots of decisions to make about the 171,000-square-foot center with indoor and outdoor pools, two basketball courts, meetings rooms and an indoor field turf gym.

Discussions continue with parents of swimmers, who want a 10-lane pool to host regional meets. Only Miami University has a 10-lane, 25-yard pool in the area, says Mike Austin, Beckett Ridge Country Club swim team president and head of the Competitive Pool Action Committee.

Trustees have asked swim parents to pledge $100,000 for operating an eight-lane pool. But commitments won't be made until the group sees how big the pool will be, Austin said.

Alvarez questioned the $874,485 added cost for a 10-lane pool presented by Steve Jones, Messer Construction Co. project manager. "I need to see more numbers before I go along with that," he said.

Trustees also challenged projections on everything from concession revenues ($276,250) to annual expenses for trash ($1,500) and water ($16,000). Trustees have said they will not build the center unless they're sure it will break even.

They also haven't figured out if they will contract management of the center, or operate it themselves.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com