Just as one small pebble dropped in a pool of water creates hundreds of ripples, the Natchez-Adams Recreation Commission made a decision that is more than a simple hiring decision.

The commission decided at its last meeting to hire a manager for the Natchez Community Swimming Pool. The manager will help Recreation Director Fay Minor who is currently running the pool in addition to her other duties.

The commission decided to make the hire to set lifeguard schedules, oversee the pool staff and manage the pool office.

Such a decision seems simple enough, except for the fact that the commission says it is still negotiating with the Metropolitan YMCAs of Mississippi to regain management of the pool.

The decision to go ahead and hire a pool manager seems to indicate that the commission is farther away from negotiating a new contract with the YMCA than the commission might like to admit.

Less than a week before the pool was scheduled to open, the YMCA terminated its agreement to manage the pool after the commission failed to meet its renewal deadline.

Commission members still appear to be dragging their feet to finalize a proposal for the YMCA. By the time they do, the summer pool season will most likely be over.

A renewal of a contract with the YMCA will take at least six weeks to be put into effect.

The commission’s reluctance to finalize a contract and its recent decision to hire a pool director suggests the commission is not serious about rehiring the YMCA and has decided to manage the pool on its own.

If so, the commission needs to demonstrate to taxpayers that such a decision is in their interest, while keeping the pool clean and safe for swimmers.

Otherwise, it needs to stop its foot-dragging and restart the negotiations.