Most of those who spoke use the center next to T.J. Davis for therapeutic reasons to ease pain caused by arthritis and other ailments.

The city currently has not budgeted funds for replacement of the system in its financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

The price tag for a new system comes in between $250,000 to $300,000, City Manager Joseph Scherer said following this evening's city council meeting.

Theresa Paglia, who moved to Roanoke Rapids specifically because of the Aquatic Center, told council, “I'm extremely upset about the possibility of it closing. I need the pool for my bad back and knees and for a social life.”

Paglia said she would like to see the city allocate funds to get a new system. “Now is the time to save it,” she said. “Please don't let this damn Yankee go back to cold, stressful New York.”

Ruthie Gregory, a Roanoke Rapids resident of 51 years, told council for 10 years she couldn't get out of bed.

When she began using the pool, her health improved. “The pool brings business into Roanoke Rapids,” she said. “The Internet and the Aquatic Center put Roanoke Rapids on the map. It's a real asset to Roanoke Rapids.”

Mary Jordan comes from Garysburg to use the pool. “The pool helps a lot of seniors move without pain,” said the 74-year-old, who took swimming lessons at 62. “You make new friends, true friends, loving friends.”

Denise Beaver, at 43, was one of the youngest to speak this evening, as well as one of the youngest in the arthritis class. “But due to an injury when I was very young I had developed end-stage arthritis in my hips.”

For the past two years she was suffering with debilitating hip pain, the last six months spending 15 or more hours a day in bed. “I am a wife and a mom of two young children and it was taking a toll on me.”

Through doctor-recommended swim therapy, “The exercises and warmth of the pool helped loosen my joints and helped relieve the pain. It was the only thing that brought any relief. I am more active than I have been in two years.”

Beaver said the impact of the classes on her life is immeasurable. “The impact that these classes have on the seniors in our community and their daily lives is immeasurable. Without these classes I worry about what will happen to the women and men who need these classes to reduce their pain and keep active. If these classes helped me — imagine how they help men and women 30 and 40 years older than myself.”

Lisa Peacock explained the importance of the pool on athletics, representing Halifax Academy, which has had a swim team since 1998. “We wouldn't have been able to have it if not for the pool.”

Stopping heating the pool has been a measure employed by the city to spare the wood in the facility further damage. The city, prior to the first of the month, kept the pool at 87 degrees for the therapeutic classes. Not heating the pool drops the temperature to between 75 and 78 degrees.

While Key Fitness has a heated pool, it is only large enough for individual training, while some 100 to 120 people use the Aquatic Center pool three days a week for classes. Portable dehumidifiers could be used but the rental cost is between $6,000 to $8,000 a week.

Neither Scherer or Mayor Emery Doughtie could say that closing the Aquatic Center is not an option.

“We're looking at options. We're looking at different options and working on the budget,” Doughtie said following the meeting. “I think the people who use it are sincere and doing what they do helps their physical well-being.”

Doughtie said the city has to look at the expense of the new system. “We're looking at other options. That process is still in effect.”

Scherer said the city is looking for anything that can be done to remedy the situation, including grant opportunities.

If a solution is found, Scherer said, there would still be a three-month window for planning and engineering on the new system.