FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- City Council is set to discuss a new ordinance introduced last week regarding the issuance of $1.25 million in bonds to fix the Gemini Center's leaking natatorium roof.

"We asked the administration for alternatives to putting the city further in debt than it is already," City Council President Michael P. Kilbane said. "This is what they came up with -- borrowing more money. I don't believe that this problem that began under this administration should be kicked down the road for future city leaders or residents to deal with.

"The administration should step up and wear the jacket for this, and not take a loan out for almost $1.3 million. This isn't going before the voters. This is a backdoor tax on the voters, so why not bring something like this before the citizens?"

Mayor Eileen Ann Patton said this is nothing more than a maintenance issue in a municipal building that needs to be fixed.

"We took this to City Council and said this is what we have and what we think we should do," Patton said. "City Council had to tell me to go ahead and do this. I didn't do this on my own. Mr. Kilbane, from what I'm hearing, is a standalone person on this project."

The leaking roof is weather related and is only an issue during frigid winter temperatures. A 2016 Construction Resources study recommended replacing the rubber flat roof over the swimming pool area, as well as a portion of the slope to the metal roof that's over the fitness floor.

Because the natatorium roof is only a decade old, the city hired The Vickers Law Group to determine whether there was negligence from any of the parties involved in its construction. Last year, the city filed an arbitration in the matter.

As far as paying for the roof project, Patton said the plan is for the city to issue a one-year note for the full balance of the repair, with the idea that any money received from the pending litigation would be used to pay that down.

"We also have a cable TV franchise fee in the city with more than $1 million sitting in it," Patton said. "It was also recommended that we at least dedicate 50 percent of that cash we have on hand to help pay down the note on this."

Kilbane has a contentious history with Patton, dating back a decade to when she vetoed a City Council-passed ordinance regarding a more stringent set of criteria related to the city's bidding process.

"I have a long history of going back and forth with this administration about how things are done in the city as far as maintenance of our public facilities," Kilbane said. "Unfortunately, the administration has always taken the line that cheaper is better. Now, we're faced with the unfortunate situation of replacing the natatorium roof.

"Instead of hiring the most qualified companies to do these projects, which may cost a little more in the short-term, for as long as I've been on this City Council, this administration has always opted to go with the cheapest. Now, we're going to pay for it."

Patton replied: "We follow all of the strict guidelines from the State of Ohio when it comes to bidding projects out. Mr. Kilbane believes that if the project is not 100 percent union, it's not a project and it should not come into our community."

As far as the city seeking compensation for construction issues related to the Gemini Center's leaking natatorium roof, so far City Council has approved paying roughly $150,000 to The Vickers Law Group. Arbitration is expected to take place next month.

Kilbane, who questioned the attorney bills, said he's not counting on the city receiving any funds from the lawsuit.

Patton, who questioned why Kilbane had an issue with the legal fees considering he voted in favor of the expenditure, is confident the city is doing the right thing.

"We feel confident we have a very good case and that there was a design or construction flaw on the construction," Patton said. "We have great evidence that we believe needs to be taken to the next step to see if we can recoup any of the money that we're paying for this project."