Council raises community pool fees, accepts donations for painting and repairs

The Town Council approved Resolution 5‑19a to raise user fees for the Stevensville community pool and accepted recent private donations toward pool maintenance.

Council members said rising costs for chemicals, lifeguard wages and utilities prompted the modest increases. Council member Parker moved to approve the resolution; Council member Bragg seconded and the motion passed 3‑0.

Nut graf: Pool operators told the council the pool has been run at a tight margin and had not seen fee increases for two years. Councilors also noted community support: the Rapp Family Foundation approved a $1,700 grant for paint and a local business pledged $3,000 worth of labor to repaint the pool; town staff and volunteers will pursue additional restroom repairs through community contacts.

During public comment, operators and residents said the pool remains affordable and that small increases could help keep programming, including lessons, viable. Staff said lesson prices will increase more than single‑admission fees (example cited: lessons increasing roughly $10 per session). Councilors emphasized they did not want to price out local families.

Ending: The motion to adopt the revised fee schedule passed 3‑0. Staff and community donors will coordinate small repairs and painting work funded in part by the foundation grant and the labor pledge.