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Kent County to seek outside pool-management bids as lifeguard shortages cut Millington pool hours
Summary
Parks and recreation staff told commissioners the county lacked enough certified lifeguards to fully staff three sites; commissioners authorized a bid process for outside pool management and discussed reimbursing certification costs.
Kent County Parks and Recreation on March 11 told commissioners a national lifeguard shortage has left the county short-staffed and forced reductions in pool operations, and asked permission to solicit proposals from private pool-management firms.
The county needs 14 lifeguards on a fully open day to staff three public pools and the county beach, Parks Director Jill Collins said. Staff reported 9 lifeguards on hand with another four to five returning but noted Millington Pool operated at reduced capacity on 23 of 28 weekend days last summer because of staffing shortages.
"Due to increasing lifeguard shortages, securing a contract with an outside pool management company is essential to maintaining consistent and safe pool operations in Kent County," Deputy Director Marva Kumpf said.
Kumpf and Collins outlined a procurement approach that would solicit bids for the 2025 season focusing initially on Millington Pool, with add-alternates for chemicals and maintenance if the county chooses to include them in an award. Commissioners asked procurement to use qualitative evaluation — factoring experience, staffing reliability and geography as well as price — and to build add-alternates so the county can compare bids on lifeguard staffing alone versus full service.
Commissioners and staff also discussed recruitment incentives. Commissioners asked staff to examine a program similar to a nearby YMCA practice: paying or waiving the certification fee for recruits who commit to county summer employment. Collins said the basic lifeguard course can cost about $250 and that Parks is exploring budgeting a reimbursement or waiver program.
The commission voted to allow Parks & Recreation to proceed with the public bid process and directed staff to coordinate bid language with procurement and legal counsel. No contract award was made at the March 11 meeting; staff will return with bid results and recommended awards.
Ending: Staff will prepare an RFP with add-alternates and a cost comparison to current in-house staffing for commissioners to review during the upcoming budget discussions.
