Pool opening delayed due to staffing
A lack of staff availability is the reason behind the Red Oak municipal swimming pool not opening Memorial Day weekend.
Red Oak City Administrator Brad Wright said crews have worked tirelessly in order to have things ready by Saturday, May 29. However, a lack of staffing has caused the pool’s opening to be postponed.
“As much as we have been fighting to have the mechanical aspects of the pool ready for operation, it is staffing that is proving to be the limiting factor,” said Wright. “Of the lifeguards we currently have onboard, only two have indicated that they are able/willing to work Memorial Day weekend, and staff availability in the week or so after that is thin.”
Wright added the City is doing everything in its power to be able to open this facility to the public, as they are excited and proud of the improvements that have been made and the amenities that have been added.
“We simply cannot open without adequate staffing in order to assure the safety of all those using the pool. We are continuing to recruit additional staff, and the YMCA has been extremely helpful in both spreading the word and providing guard certification classes,” Wright said.
Once the pool does open, the tentative schedule is 1 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. However, based on the number of available staff, the hours may be shortened, said Wright.
Cost is $5 for a daily pass. A season pass is $150 for individuals, and $175 for a family season pass.
“We have been telling people, we will be open to the degree we can with the staff we have. That may mean having to close a day during the week. Our hope is to be open the hours shown seven days a week, but right now we may be challenged to do so with the number of lifeguards who have currently applied,” said Wright. “Those desiring to purchase a season pass, need to be understanding of this, as there will be no refunds should days or hours need to be reduced.”
In addition to the usual amenities of zero entry, racing lanes and a diving board, Wright said there is also a large slide, a family slide, rock climbing wall, a mushroom, water fountain feature and basketball hoop.
The Red Oak Council approved the pool renovations at the regular meeting in August, 2019, and approved making the award of construction contract to Ricchio Inc., for $2,548,000. In order to save on the costs, which grew beyond the budgeted $2.5 million for the project, the council agreed to postpone renovations to the bathhouse, saving a total cost of $177,644.
Demolition on the project began in September, 2019. A temporary hold was placed on work on the project in April, 2020, due to restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. That, and a delay in the inspection from the Iowa Department of Public Health led to the pool remaining closed to the public for the summer of 2020.
Work on the project resumed in May, 2020, and after work progressed, Wright told the council at its regular meeting May 6 of this year, that staff training was to commence, and the pool was going to be filled in time for summer.
“We still need additional lifeguards to apply as well as assistant managers to help with scheduling, taking admission, and operational management. If anyone is interested, they simply need to stop in to City Hall to fill out an application,” Wright stated.