Peachtree City officials are seeking proposals from firms interested in running the tennis center instead of the current arrangement with the tourism association.

The matter at this point is exploratory so the city can determine if privatization is a viable option, said Randy Gaddo, the city’s director of leisure services, briefing the city council Saturday at its annual retreat.

Late last year the tourism association petitioned the city to assume the tennis center operations so it could focus on tourism-related issues.

In addition to hearing from firms with experience running similar facilities, the city is also expected to get a proposal from the current tennis pro staff, Gaddo said.

Gaddo said there are five different private companies operating tennis centers in Georgia. He added that the city would have control of the operations via a contract that would be issued on a year to year basis.

“If we did it there would be a lot of oversight from us,” Gaddo said.

Gaddo said the recreation department has a similar contract with USA Pools, which provides swimming lessons and lifeguards for city pools.

Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett said she was skeptical about the benefit of privatizing the tennis center but said if the city came up with the “perfect combination” she would be open to it. On the flip side, Councilman Don Haddix said he liked the idea.

“I would rather we keep control where it’s under the recreation department or a revamped tourism association,” Plunkett said.

Haddix noted the tourism association is the second city authority that has operated the tennis center “and we’ve had problems with both.”

Resident Phil Mahler said he was worried about service declining at the tennis center if it were privatized. He said the center and the city’s path system were the two main reasons he moved here to retire.

“Tennis centers as a general rule do not make a lot of money,” Mahler said. “They are going to bring people in ... and generate interest in Peachtree City as a place to live.”

Mahler suggested the city look at perhaps using a different city authority to operate the facility.

Gaddo noted that no final decision has been made but he thinks the city needs to explore the issue to determine what its best option for operating the tennis center. Another option batted around by officials has been managing the facility as part of the city’s recreation department.

In his presentation Gaddo noted that city staff had contacted a large number of tennis center users, ranging from the advanced player to casual users, about future operations of the tennis center. The majority said they would like to see the facility continue to be operated by the city, Gaddo said.

Mayor Harold Logsdon said he agreed while outsourcing is not always a good fit, he wants more information about perhaps doing it for the tennis center operations.

“What we do now is a little bit problematic so we’ve got to make some changes,” Logsdon said, adding that he understood Mahler’s concerns.