Negotiations between Southern Oregon University and the Aquatics Foundation of Southern Oregon officially came to an end Wednesday when it was announced the SOU pool at McNeal Pavilion will be open again for contracted use.

The pool, which closed July 1 because of budget cuts at the university, will re-open Monday for contracted users.

Cyndi Mathews, the director of the non-profit group AFSO, was relieved after about six months of work to re-open the aquatic facility finally came to fruition.

"Raising money was quite a chore," said Mathews, who has been with the foundation since its inception about six months ago. "We raised the money but we couldn't even guarantee the pool would still re-open. We had to get the ball rolling before the ball would roll."

The groups that have contracted use of the pool are the Phoenix-Talent swim teams, Ashland High swim team, Southern Oregon Water Polo and the Rogue Valley Masters swim team. Any additional users of the pool will be at the discretion of the university.

Cost for use of the pool is estimated at about $100 per hour. Those that contract for use of the facility pay what they can, with the remainder of the fee to be paid for by the AFSO, which has enough money raised for about a 10-month period.

Other expenses, such as repairs, will also be paid for by the AFSO.

"We met with SOU earlier in September," said Mathews, "and then we had a board meeting Monday night and everyone got their permission slips and insurance forms signed. The contracts are ready and the pool, we learned, is being heated. We're very excited."

The AFSO has raised around $31,000 through grants and various fundraisers, and the pool users will contract for about $45,000.

Cost to run the 50-year-old pool is estimated at around $80,000 annually.

"I think this is probably the best situation since we started these discussions," SOU Athletic Director Dennis Francois said. "All along we've tried to come together on an agreement. I believe this is a win-win situation for all those involved."

The SOU facility is one of the state's few competitive pools south of Eugene.

A handful of high school swim and water polo teams, along with the Rogue Valley Masters and other area competitive clubs relied on the pool prior to its closure.

High cost for repair and upkeep and a financial crunch at SOU forced the school to close the pool three months ago.

"We could not afford to continue subsidizing to all those user groups," said Francois. "Not with the situation where the university faced layoffs and program cuts."

Even with the pool back in order, repairs will still be an issue.

Recently, a leaky pool chlorinator had to be replaced and problems with the pumps have popped up in the past that have halted or cancelled swim and water polo events.

But those issues will be addressed when they arise.

For now, Mathews and the 12-member AFSO are just pleased to have the McNeal Pavilion facility back.

"Once we get it open then hopefully more and more people will want to use the pool," said Mathews. "We've drawn attention to it and hopefully things will be easier in the future for our kids and the future of the athletes in the area."

Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483, or e-mail kgoff@mailtribune.com