Athens City Council members tabled a request to pay $72,000 to the architect for the proposed new recreation center because they want to see detailed drawings of the building.

Council members have already approved Goodwyn Mills & Cawood to draw the proposed new facility, which will have three gyms and other amenities. The council will also have to decide whether it can afford possible add-ons like tennis courts and covering the existing pool so it can be used year-round.

Council President Joseph Cannon said after the meeting the council decided to table the request to fund architectural services for the new facility until they could see more detailed drawings of the facility.

Councilman Harold Wales questioned whether the fee was just for the cost to design the project. City Clerk Annette Barnes said it was for schematic designs.

“We have not even decided what we are going to build,” Wales said.

Cannon had questioned the $72,000 fee and the fact it will be 10 percent of the cost of the facility.

The architect fee to build City Hall was roughly 6 percent of the total $2.5 million-plus cost, Barnes said, adding that this phase of the rec center project gets them to bids.

Cannon said, “Is that what we did with City Hall? We spent ‘X’ number to get a design?”

“You’ve gotta have a design before you can get a price,” Barnes said.

Cannon said that is a concern.

Councilman Chris Seibert said the cost seemed high.

Public Works Director James Rich said the fee schedule is based on the total cost of the building. In the case of the new City Hall, the city paid 6 percent for the design. Barnes said the fee for the recreation center works out to 10 percent.

When the matter came up for a vote, council members decided to table the matter.

Recreation Director Ben Wiley said after the meeting the architectural firm will likely have to meet with the council and go over the drawings and explain what is included in the fee.