CHRISTIANSBURG -- The Tuesday night Christiansburg Town Council meeting was filled to capacity, with some sitting on the floor and most anticipating discussion of the new aquatics center.

During a public hearing on the matter, Mayor Richard Ballengee said council would consider all bids for use of the center. Town Manager Lance Terpenny said the only bid received was from Virginia Tech.

Per the 25-year agreement, Christiansburg would give Tech exclusive privileges at the center, including reserved pool times for team training and rights to host swim meets. Tech, in return, would pay the town $5 million -- $250,000 annually for the next 20 years.

Many at the meeting voiced concerns that Christiansburg residents will be slighted by the deal.

"They're getting the gold mine and we're getting the shaft," said Wes Atkinson, a resident who spoke during the hearing.

Harold Shelton echoed Atkinson's feelings, saying the town is "bending over backwards to give things to Virginia Tech" and is being taking advantage of by Tech paying for 20 years, with the agreement lasting for 25 years.

Town resident Terry Ellen Carter scoffed at council considering the agreement with Tech a public bid and had a suggestion for what the town should do with the contract in lieu of signing it.

"It should probably be shredded," she said.

Sam Nixon, an insurance agent, imparted to council the same business advice his father gave him years ago.

"Never to enter a business situation without first having a signed agreement," Nixon said, referring to the town having much of the aquatics center in place with the contract yet to be signed.

He said that, like it or not, the town should make the best of it -- and, in closing, wished council good luck in "straightening out this mess."

Lisa Gardner stressed that town residents should take priority over Tech.

The town will make the pool available to Tech's swim teams five to six days a week between the hours of 5 and 10 a.m. and 2 and 7 p.m. Tech must advise the town about its training schedule annually by March 1 for the period of May 1 to Aug. 31 and by July 1 for the period of Sept. 1 to April 30.

Tech will have exclusive use of the pool for 10 weekend meets, and the town must be notified of the dates by Aug. 1 annually.

"We get it first, Tech gets it second. ... I want those hours reserved for us. Tech can have the crummy hours," she said.

While the majority who spoke during the meeting criticized the agreement, some were more optimistic.

Kristi Wilson, a resident and self-described "swim parent," said she is "elated" that the new center will be a great opportunity for her and her two children.

Wilson works in Blacksburg and travels back and forth six days a week to take her kids to Tech's facilities, where they practice swimming.

She said that, as with any business deal, there are details to be worked out but thinks it will be an asset to the town in both a recreational sense and financially.

Allison Zuchowski, assistant director of aquatics programs at Tech and a Christiansburg resident, looks forward to the local impact of having the center.

"It's a growing sport, and it's a sport that I hope our children will have the opportunity to experience," she said.

It was evident that the packed house was due to the aquatics center discussion, because much of the room cleared out immediately following the closing of its hearing.

Afterward, Councilman Ernie Wade expressed concern over the contract's vagueness. Ballengee appointed Wade and Councilman Jim Vanhoozier to a committee to work with Terpenny in clarifying some of these concerns.

Terpenny, however, clarified some of the issues immediately.

"The original agreement ... came down to $200,000 for 25 years," Terpenny said.

He opted instead to receive $250,000 annually for 20 years so the town would get larger sums of money sooner to go toward managing the town and operating the facility.

"So they agreed to that. Same amount of money, same amount of time, they paid for the last five years up front is what it boils down to," he said.

Terpenny also cleared up the idea of Tech depriving others from using the facility because of their reserved training hours.

A former Tech swimmer himself, Terpenny said the size of the pool will negate any problems with sharing the facility.

"When you got a 50-meter facility you can have 20 people in a lane and they're not getting in each other's way," Terpenny said.

"But you don't get that from reading this agreement," Wade chimed in.

Terpenny agreed.

Ballengee hopes the town can clear up any misconceptions people have, including public criticism in print and online.

"We are going to make this a very positive program for our citizens, and I think it's going to be one of the best things that's happened in this area," Ballengee said.