MARIETTA - Slowly but surely, the City Council is appointing members to a citizens committee charged with determining how best to spend the $25 million parks bond voters approved in November.

The committee will consist of 16 voting members who are appointed by the mayor and council, and chaired by Councilman Jim King, who is a non-voting member. Each council member gets to appoint two Marietta residents. The exception is for Holly Walquist, who was defeated by Johnny Sinclair and will step off the council next month, as well as Mayor-elect Steve Tumlin, who replaces retiring Mayor Bill Dunaway. Walquist, Sinclair, Tumlin and Dunaway each get to make one appointment.

Tumlin and Sinclair have the power to replace the selections made by Dunaway and Walquist once they take office.

Councilman Anthony Coleman said one of his appointments is the Rev. Walter Moon, pastor of Words of Faith AME in Mableton, who served on the Marietta school board in the 1970s.

"Being a lifelong resident of Marietta, I've always been interested in parks and recreation," Moon said.

Moon, 69, would like to see some of the funds from the parks bond go to improving two Marietta landmarks - the Elizabeth Porter Recreation Center, located on 1.8 acres on Montgomery Street between Cole and Allgood streets, and the Lawrence Street Community Center, on 2.1 acres near Hanley-Shelton Funeral Home.

There has been a continuous dispute over what should be done with the Lawrence Street pool. Some have complained that the city has failed to fix it up. But Moon believes the pool should simply be paved over with a swing set on top. He said the Elizabeth Porter Center would make a far better place for a community swimming pool. Dunaway floated the same idea earlier this year, when he said the Elizabeth Porter location is ideal because it is centrally located in the city. Moreover, the city owns a parcel of land nearby for expansion purposes.

Coleman also appointed real estate agent Melody Unger, who is the former treasurer of the now defunct Old Marietta Neighborhood Association.

Walquist's appointment of Larry Ceminsky raised eyebrows among some council members. Ceminsky displayed campaign signs for Walquist and for Coleman's opponent, James Dodd, in front of his business in the November election. Once Walquist's term expires next month, it will remain up to Sinclair to decide whether to keep Ceminsky on the committee.

Coleman, who is less than pleased that Ceminsky supported his opponent, does not think the owner of Bomber Battery will last long.

"Larry's going to get canned," Coleman said.

However, Sinclair said Friday, "For now, it's not my intention to remove him."

Meantime, King appointed Michael Helenek, who works in the trucking industry. He also appointed Anheuser-Busch manager Michelle Cooper Kelly, who sought a seat on the Marietta school board in November, but lost to Thomas Cheater.

Councilwoman Annette Lewis appointed former council member Betty Hunter, but has one more slot to fill. Tumlin appointed attorney and political operative Heath Garrett. Councilman Van Pearlberg appointed business owner Ford Bohannon and retired judge Jim Morris. Sinclair appointed Mitch Hunter, son of former Marietta Housing Authority board member David Hunter.

Dunaway, Grif Chalfant and Philip Goldstein haven't yet made any appointments.

City Manager Bill Bruton said the committee's first meeting has been set for Thursday.