Butte-Silver Bow commissioners agreed Wednesday night to pay an engineering firm nearly $20,000 to design three options for an outdoor public pool and possibly other features.
The council OK'd the contract with Pioneer Technical Services Inc. of Butte on a voice vote without dissent, but a few commissioners raised concerns about costs for the design work and any future price tag for building and operating a pool.
They noted that tens of thousands of dollars were spent a few years ago on marketing, designs and a special election in which voters narrowly defeated a $7.5 million bond issue to pay for a new pool.
But that proposal also included new tennis courts and parking at Stodden Park and improvements to the county-owned golf course.
Pioneer will develop plans for demolishing the old pool at Stodden Park and making the area viable for a new one.