Worthington City Council voted 6-1 Monday night to approve a 20-year lease agreement with Swim Inc. to operate the city's new outdoor pool facility adjacent to Thomas Worthington High School. The approval follows voter support for a levy earlier this year to fund the pool's construction.
The agreement establishes a framework for Swim Inc.—which has operated outdoor pool amenities in Worthington for approximately 70 years—to continue providing programming, operations, management, and day-to-day maintenance at the new facility.
Key Terms of the Lease
City Manager Robyn Stewart outlined the primary provisions:
Three-Tiered Rate Structure: Membership fees will be structured in three tiers. Non-residents of the Worthington School District will pay at least 15% more than those living within the district but outside city limits, who in turn will pay at least 15% more than residents within the city limits.
Lease Payments: Swim Inc. will pay the city $10,000 annually starting in December 2031. The delayed start recognizes that there will be no summer pool season in 2025 while construction is underway, and that Swim Inc. is contributing to furnishings and fixtures for the facility.
Financial Oversight: Swim Inc. must provide the city with annual financial statements and audit reports. The city will have two representatives on Swim Inc.'s board—positions that have been filled since earlier this year.
Certification Requirements: All Swim Inc. employees must maintain current certifications required for their job duties, whether lifeguarding, training, or pool management.
Termination Provisions: The city can terminate the lease if Swim Inc. declares bankruptcy, loses nonprofit status, remains inactive for more than six months, ceases managing the natatorium, or breaches the lease. Either party can terminate with 180 days written notice or by mutual agreement.
Public Concerns About Costs
During comments, Worthington resident Tory Hogan raised concerns about Swim Inc.'s transparency and the community's lack of input on operating costs.
"That organization gets complete control over it, and we as public don't really get a say in that," Hogan said. She noted that Swim Inc. does not have publicly accessible financial audits and questioned how the city would deem the organization successful—whether by membership rates, participation numbers, or other metrics.
Hogan requested that council pause the vote and establish operating metrics that would be reported back to the community.
City Manager Stewart acknowledged that membership costs will likely be higher than other municipal pools, explaining the city's approach: "This proposal was set up so that taxpayers would support the capital cost of replacing the pool, but it was not set up for the city to subsidize the operations."
Stewart noted that communities like Westerville and Dublin provide operating subsidies that buy down membership rates—something Worthington chose not to include in order to limit the taxpayer impact.
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Council Discussion
Council President Rachael Dorothy and council member Rebecca Hermann both expressed support, with Dorothy calling it a "balanced approach" that continues a successful 70-year model with Swim Inc.
Councilmember David Robinson voted against the measure, citing broader concerns about the pool project. He noted that Worthington residents are paying $11.4 million through increased property taxes and the city is taking on nearly $8 million in additional debt for a facility with a 50-meter competitive pool that he characterized as "not necessary or even suitable for a recreational public pool facility."
Financial Transparency
In response to public comments about transparency, Councilmember Pete Bucher asked whether Swim Inc.'s financial statements and audit reports could be made publicly accessible on the city's website. Stewart indicated the city could accommodate that request, noting that while the city's own audits are available upon request, they are not automatically posted online.
The lease requires Swim Inc. to develop a separate budget reflecting expenses and revenue specific to the outdoor pool operations—addressing concerns that indoor and outdoor pool finances had been combined in the past.
What's Next
Construction is expected to proceed in 2025, with no summer pool season available during that time. Annual lease payments to the city will begin in December 2031, with the potential for additional payments if Swim Inc.'s monetary reserves exceed 50% of average annual operating expenses.