Jonesboro, Arkansas – Local swim programs in Jonesboro are facing an uncertain summer season after city officials postponed a key decision that would determine how teams will share access to the Jonesboro Pool Center.
The issue was discussed Tuesday during a meeting of the Jonesboro Finance and Administration council committee, where members voted to delay a resolution that would have allowed the city to enter a formal facility-use agreement with swim organizations using the publicly funded pool.
The proposed agreement focused on the Jets Aquatic Club and the Shark Wave Aquatic Team, also known as SWAT. Under the plan, both teams would continue sharing the Jonesboro Pool Center, but lane distribution would be adjusted based on athlete head counts provided through AAU guidelines. One idea under consideration suggested a 70 percent to 30 percent lane split, although both teams would still contribute equally in terms of facility costs.
However, with the resolution tabled, both organizations are now left without clear direction on when or how they will be able to train at the facility this summer.
For SWAT families and representatives, the delay has created growing frustration and concern about the future of their season. The uncertainty has already led to canceled events and disrupted training schedules, leaving athletes in limbo at a critical time of year for competitive swimming.
“If there is a motion to table this, when are my kids going to get in the pool,” said Sara Beth Cook, representing SWAT.
Bryce Cook, chairman of SWAT, also voiced concern about the timing of the postponement, emphasizing that the lack of a finalized agreement is already affecting competition plans and preparation.
“Do not postpone this indefinitely, we’re about to be in June, we cancelled a large swim meet that the A&P allocated us because of the uncertainty related to this contract.”
The postponed resolution means that both Jets Aquatic Club and SWAT must now wait for further action from the city council, while officials are encouraging the two groups to reach a mutual agreement in the meantime. Committee members who voted to delay the decision indicated they would prefer the teams work out a compromise before the issue returns for a future vote.
Every member of the committee present supported the motion to postpone, signaling a unified decision to pause rather than immediately finalize the agreement. While no timeline has been set for when the resolution might return, the delay adds pressure on both teams as summer training schedules continue to narrow.
At the heart of the dispute is how to fairly divide limited pool space between two established swim programs that both rely on the Jonesboro Pool Center for practice and competition preparation. With summer approaching quickly, families and athletes are now waiting to see whether a compromise can be reached or whether city leaders will have to step back in with a final ruling.
For now, the pool remains a shared but unsettled space, with the next steps dependent on continued negotiations and future council action.
