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However, some residents say they wanted a gym, an outdoor pool, outdoor tennis courts and outdoor pickleball courts.

City officials said they will work on expanding the new facility with these amenities in future phases.

They said the gym and the indoor pool will be part of the project’s first phase, the outdoor tennis and pickleball courts will be part of the second phase, and the outdoor pool will be part of the third phase.

Residents like Lesley Penny have complained that the city is rushing the project.

Penny, who is the manager of the Providence Pool Club, a private pool club that is exclusively for owners and residents of the Providence HOA, said Mt. Juliet is approaching this project on how cheap and fast they can build the facility.

Last week, she questioned the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners about the costs of the new aquatic and recreation center.

Penny told the city commission that Mt. Juliet cannot afford to invest on a costly project like this facility.

“We are not ready to build this facility,” said Penny.

Penny said building the new aquatic and recreation center is a “pie in the sky” dream.

District 4 Commissioner Jennifer Milele said that while the facility is long overdue, the city commission believes that it is the right time to build it.

“This should have been done 10 years ago, and all of us should be deciding on expanding the recreation center in the future,” said Milele.

Mt. Juliet’s new aquatic and recreation center is not expected to raise rates for taxpayers, according to city officials.

They said the city commission would pay back the bonds with funds from Mt. Juliet’s hotel and motel tax over the next 20 years.

Mt. Juliet's hotel/motel tax generates about $1.3 million annually.

Milele said the city has worked on scaling down the proposals for the aquatic and recreation center so they could make this project come into fruition.

“Financially, we've got to work with what we have,” said Milele.

She said that outside of the costs, the city commission must approve this facility with a three-vote majority.

“We believe that it is a great project that will benefit families in our community for years to come,” Milele said.

Mt. Juliet commissioners will meet June 23 for the final reading on the budget, which includes construction of the recreation center.

City officials estimated that the new center center will open in 2027.