CHRISTIANSBURG -- The town council approved setting the hours and fees for the new aquatics center, which is expected to be finished by late January.

The center will house three pools and space for such uses as recreational swimming and Atlantic Coast Conference and other swimming meets.

The council's action at its meeting Monday night will help in the marketing efforts for the center, said Director of Aquatics Terry Caldwell.

The fees approved include $2 for a daily pass for children ages 2 to 11; $3 for ages 12 to 17; $5 for ages 18 to 59; and $3 for those 60 and older.

There are also higher fees in place for nonresidents.

Town Manager Lance Terpenny said the cheaper fees for the town residents is because of taxpayer support for the project.

The center will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as weekends.

The hours and fees were presented in a report to the council from the town's aquatic advisory board, which is made up of residents and town officials.

Town officials said they could also take a look later to see how the fee structure and hours are working at the center.

Also in Monday's meeting, the council was told that the goal is to finish the center by late January, said Sam Lionberger III, president of Lionberger Construction, the project's contractor.

Lionberger also used the January timeframe during a presentation in September to the council.

Lionberger Construction and Reynolds Architects have been responsible for the $14.78 million building.

The overall project cost is $17.98 million, which includes the construction of the building, road improvements, excavation, lighting, landscaping, engineering and storm drainage, Terpenny said.

The center was originally planned to be complete in December 2008.

Mayor Richard Ballengee said people are eager to see the project finished.

"We're ready to open. We're just waiting for you," Ballengee told the project representatives.

Site work started on the center in late 2007, but construction did not begin in full until design drawings were received in May 2008, Lionberger has said.

Prior to the January completion date, project representatives thought the center could be finished by the end of October, Lionberger has said.

In September, he said project representatives "had every confidence that we could get there."

The delays in the project have been caused by design changes, waiting for custom-made light fixtures and their installation, as well as installation of a scoreboard and the computerized scoring and timing system for the competitive pool.

The 64,000-square-foot, two-story building features a 50-meter diving pool, a leisure pool with a two-story water slide and water features, a heated therapy pool and fitness area.

What it will cost
The following are the fees and hours approved for the new Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

Daily pass
Children, ages 2-11, $2
Youth, ages 12-17, $3
Adults, ages18-59, $5
Senior citizens, ages 60 plus/disabled, $3

12-visit passes
Children, $18
Youth, $27
Adults, $45
Senior citizens/disabled, $27

Six-month membership
Children, $60
Youth, $90
Adults, $150
Senior citizens/disabled, $90
Family, two adults with one or more children, $270
Couple/single parent, two adults ages 18 and older or single parent with children, $180

Annual membership
Children, $100
Youth, $150
Adults, $250
Senior citizens/disabled, $150
Family, $450
Couple/single parent, $300

Fees for nonresidents

Daily pass
Children, $3
Youth, $4
Adults, $6
Senior citizens/disabled, $4

12-visit passes
Children, $27
Youth, $36
Adults, $54
Senior citizens/disabled, $36

Six-month membership
Children, $85
Youth, $130
Adults, $210
Senior citizens/disabled, $130
Family, $380
Couple/single parent, $250

Annual membership
Children, $140
Youth, $210
Adults, $350
Senior citizens/disabled, $210
Family, $630
Couple/single parent, $420

Hours of operation: Monday through Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 5:30 a.m. to8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 7 p.m.

By comparison

Here are the fees for the Blacksburg Aquatic Center, a year-round indoor aquatic facility offering a six-lane,25-yard pool.

Daily admission, individual passes
Youth, 3-14, $3
Seniors, 65 and older, $3
Adults, 15-64, $3.50 Rates decrease by 50 cents after 7 p.m.

10-swim passes
Youth, 3-14, $25
Seniors, 65 and older, $25
Adults, 15-64, $30

Yearly pass
Youth, 3-14, $200
Seniors, 65 and older, $200
Adults, 15-64, $230

Family pass
Primary account member:
Adults, 15-64, $230
Seniors, 65 and older, $200
Youth, 3-14, $200

Additional account member
Adult, 20-64, $160
Senior, 65 and older, $100
Young adult, 15-19, $100
Youth, 3-14, $85

SOURCES: Christiansburg Aquatic Center report and Blacksburg Web site