2 Rivers Public Health begins public‑pool permitting in Kearney area; council asks about fees and chemistry checks

2 Rivers Public Health representatives on April 22 briefed the Kearney City Council on a new public-pool permitting and inspection program that launched April 1. The program covers public pools — including hotel, motel, YMCA and municipally operated pools — and is intended to standardize safety inspections and local permitting previously handled by state staff.

Katie Mulligan and Jeremy (last names not provided) explained the program and answered council questions. Mulligan said the program focuses on ‘‘public pools. We're not talking a private backyard pool…’’ and emphasized the goal of public-safety inspections rather than punishment. Officials described the first-season approach, expected fees, staffing and typical inspection items.

Why it matters: Local permitting shifts day‑to‑day inspection responsibility and establishes local fees and a permitting process; it affects recreation operators, municipal facilities and pools that serve the public. City staff and council members raised questions about cost, testing frequency and what inspectors will check on site.

Program scope and schedule: - Permits: 2 Rivers said there are about 77 permits in the jurisdiction; Buffalo County accounts for 47 permits and the majority are in Kearney. The Y (YMCA) holds separate permits for its pool and spa because they are treated as separate bodies of water. - Start date and staffing: The jurisdictional program began April 1. 2 Rivers said its environmental‑health team currently includes four staff working on pool inspections; the agency plans to hire an additional inspector. - Inspection frequency: 2 Rivers plans to visit each pool about two times this summer and has already completed inspections for most indoor pools in nearby counties; Buffalo County inspections began the prior week. - What inspectors check: Inspectors will test water chemistry (free and combined chlorine, alkalinity and pH), verify circulation and filters, check safety equipment (buoys, shepherd’s crooks), and note lifeguard staffing where applicable. Inspectors will also look for basic safety items such as safe decking and an accessible phone for 911 calls. - Training and outreach: 2 Rivers has met with local operators, developed an online permit application and intends inspections to be educational. Staff noted their nurses can provide free local CPR training to operators and community members.

Fees and legal context: - State fee: Pools continue to pay the state permit fee (stated in the briefing as $40) to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE). - Local fee: 2 Rivers described a local permit/inspection fee schedule with a discounted municipal rate (example cited: $200 for municipal pools). Representatives said inspection visits are not charged as penalties; the fee is for permitting and program support. Council members asked how the local fee compares with the prior state-managed process.

Council questions and staff responses: - Chemistry and testing frequency: Council members asked how often city pools test chemistry; city staff said they test multiple times per day (the city reported testing five times a day at municipal pools). 2 Rivers staff said field testing and operator logs are used to corroborate results. - ADA and other items: Council asked whether inspectors check ADA compliance; 2 Rivers said they do not perform ADA compliance inspections but do verify emergency phone availability and safety equipment.

Next steps: 2 Rivers will finish collecting permit applications and continue inspections through the summer. The council did not take formal action on the program at the April 22 meeting; questions were directed to 2 Rivers staff and the city’s recreation staff for ongoing coordination.