Opp officials said Monday they’re ready to dive into a new construction project – a city pool – but they will soon ask for the public’s helping in funding it.

Mayor John Bartholomew said the Park Avenue site was formerly known as the “veterans’ pool,” as it will again be in the future.

“We’ve been lacking for so long for not having rec facilities,” Bartholomew said. “This project is the council’s way of giving back to the residents of Opp.”

The project is already in its initial steps, he said. A company has been contracted to demolish the old pool house at no cost, and the council voted Monday to hire Archiscapes LLC for a rendering of a new pool, pool house and bathrooms.

Bartholomew said the pool will go from a shallow children’s play area to 5-foot at the deep end. He said bathrooms would be placed at each end with a pavilion for parties in the middle.

“That’s what we’re thinking right now, but that plan might change as we get public input and see what the rendering looks like,” he said.

Total cost of the project is unknown at this point, but Bartholomew said a fundraising drive will be held to cover the cost.

The $1,400 cost of the architect’s rendering will be deducted from the total price of the architect’s fees once the project begins, Bartholomew said.

“We need to get on this project quickly so we can start raising money,” he said. “I know residents will be excited when they can see what this project is going to look like.”

Some residents were excited Monday when the council voted against rezoning two parcels on Maloy Street from R-1 (residential) to B-1 (business). The property owners had hoped a zoning change would allow them to better market the property; however, adjoining landowners – including more than 10 who were in attendance at the night’s meeting and the 140 who signed a petition against the change – said they didn’t want a business in a residential neighborhood.

In other business, the council appointed Wanda Summers as the city’s building inspector and Jason Bryan to the South Central Alabama Mental Health Board.