Logandale Pool To Remain Open

The sounds of splashing and laughter will soon be heard at both of the Moapa Valley swimming pools this summer. Parks and Rec officials announced last week that both the Logandale and Overton pools would be opened to the public beginning Memorial Day weekend.

This announcement, made on May 13 at the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board (MVTAB) meeting by Parks and Rec Manager of Recreation Mindy Meyers, was a reversal of earlier statements made by Parks and Rec officials. On April 29, Parks and Rec officials told the MVTAB that the Logandale pool would remain completely closed this summer due to budgetary constraints and cost cutting measures.

Meyers explained the change at Wednesday’s meeting. “Given the tough economy, our department was tasked with finding cost savings,” Meyers told the board.

County-wide these savings were significant. During the current fiscal year, about $371,000 was cut from the Rec budget countywide, Meyers said. Cuts for the upcoming fiscal year are expected to more than double that.

“We took into account all the opportunities that we offer and tried to find areas to cut that would affect the least number of citizens,” Meyers said.

For the Moapa area aquatics program, this finally came down to a need to save only about $6,000.

Meyers said that her department had originally drafted a plan to leave both of the local pools open. They would do this, and save the $6,000, by alternating cuts in the open swim hours of operation of the two local pools. A schedule was proposed that would make moderate cuts in free swim pool hours across both of the pools while maintaining the aquatics programs like swim lessons and team competitions.

But, according to Meyers, a misunderstanding arose in relaying the plan to County Commissioner Tom Collins. According to Meyers, Collins thought that the plan had the two pools opening and closing on alternating days. “He didn’t want the confusion of the community alternating between pools,” Meyers said. “So he instructed us to just close one and keep the other open.”

But the proposed schedule did not actually involve such alternation between pools. The schedule actually made it possible to keep both pools open with slightly reduced hours. “When we realized the miscommunication, I think we all had an ‘a-ha’ moment,” Meyers said. “We could save the funding needed without closing the pool.”

“The good news is that the Logandale pool will stay open,” Meyers told the MVTAB members.. This statement was followed by general applause from the audience.

Meyers stated that the local Parks and Rec staff were now scrambling to hire enough lifeguard staff to manage both facilities. Initially they had planned to hire 21 local teens as lifeguards. But as they began to implement the Logandale pool closure, they reduced that number to only 13.

Many local teens who had applied and completed certification training for the positions had received notice in the mail that they would not be needed in the position. But now that the pool is to be opened again, Parks and Rec staff are working to bring the number of lifeguards back up to the 21 that will be needed. There were a total of 33 applications for lifeguarding positions this year.

Meyers concluded by suggesting that there were actually a number of ways that the department could make the required cuts. She asked for feedback from the community on the best way to do so.

“Our proposed schedule which alternates the cuts between the two pools is one way to do it,” Meyers said. “We could also cut programs elsewhere in the valley. Or we are open to any other suggestions.”

MVTAB chairman, Gene Houston, asked Meyers about entry fees at the pools. Currently the entry fees are set at 50 cents for children, $1.50 for adults and $1.00 for seniors.

Houston also asked what the average attendance at the local pools is for the summer. Last summer, Logandale pool had an attendance of 7.488 people. Overton pool saw 6,083.

Houston suggested that a modest increase in pool entry fees would solve the funding problem. “If you raised the fees by, say, 50 cents, that would be enough to cover the $6,000 that you are needing,” Houston said. “Then we don’t sacrifice any of the programs or pool hours.”

Meyers stated that the fees were standardized throughout the county. To change the rates, it would have to be approved by the Board of County Commissioners. But she said that she would look into this option.

MVTAB member Judy Metz suggested that the increase might be termed as a temporary surcharge for this year only. “We could have the increase this year and then re-evaluate it as needed next year,” Metz said.

“We all understand that there are budget constraints,” Houston said. “But I think that, in order to keep what is needed, this community is willing to come together and make it happen, whatever that means.”