The Roanoke Times | File March

Christiansburg's aquatics center is set to open in the fall.

| Lerone Graham

lerone.graham@roanoke.com, 381-8621

CHRISTIANSBURG -- After much discussion between Christiansburg and Virginia Tech leaders, a contract for the university's use of the town's new aquatics center will soon be signed.

According to the 25-year agreement, Christiansburg would give Tech exclusive privileges at the center, now scheduled for a fall opening, including reserved pool times for team training and rights to host swim meets. The university, in return, would pay the town $5 million -- $250,000 annually for the next 20 years, with the first installment due Sept. 1.

A draft contract was ready to be signed earlier this year, but town officials weren't satisfied with it and wanted to make changes.

"We asked for input from anybody and everybody," said Councilman Ernie Wade.

Initially, the contract stated that Tech would have use of the pool five to six days a week from 5 to 10 a.m. and from 2 to 7 p.m., a maximum of 60 hours. This has been changed to 5:30 to 8 a.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 to 10 a.m. on Saturday -- for 30.5 hours per week.

Another change is that a member of Tech's coaching staff must be present at all practices and events, for liability purposes.

Town staff will also create a separate contract for Atlantic Coast Conference swim meets, in which the town will retain all concession rights.

Issues such as amount of money Tech would give annually and the tenure of the aquatics center contract were "untouchable," Wade said.

Christiansburg Town Council voted unanimously to adopt the contract during Tuesday's meeting.

"I'm not happy with the agreement, but it's better than nothing," said Councilwoman Ann Carter.

Carter said she is dissatisfied with the manner that the agreement caters to Tech, but not the town residents. She did say the revised contract is an improvement, and that she's glad the town finally has something in writing.

"I had a judge say to me just last week, 'An oral agreement is not worth the paper it's written on,' so I think we need to move on," she said.

Now that council approved the contract, Town Manager Lance Terpenny and Tech Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Dwight Shelton may sign it.