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council debates pool wages, lifeguard staffing and inspection changes ahead of summer
Summary
Councilmembers proposed raising lifeguard starting pay to $16 and manager pay to $20, considered a higher WSI differential for swim instructors, reported only six applicants so far, and flagged inspection changes that may require paying local health departments to inspect the pool.
Councilmembers Cathy Gobar and Andrew Schweers told the City Council on May 4 they recommend increasing lifeguard starting wages to $16 per hour and keeping the manager salary at $20 per hour to attract more applicants for the summer pool season.
"We decided to start at $16.00 an hour as an incentive to apply and manager start out at $20.00 an hour," Councilwoman Cathy Gobar said, noting the council would like to have about ten or more applicants but had received six so far. Gobar and Councilman Andrew Schweers said an adult manager would be preferable and that they would discuss recruiting teachers who are off for the summer to manage the pool.
Schweers proposed increasing the WSI (Water Safety Instructor) differential from $1.50 to $2.00 per hour to encourage certified swim instructors. City Clerk/Treasurer Stephanie James warned that with the current applicant pool the pool may not be able to offer lessons this year.
Councilman Barry Meyer raised concerns about state regulations requiring small-town pools to staff multiple lifeguards at once, which complicates scheduling for communities with fewer available employees. "We have to have at least ten employees to be able to rotate," Meyer said, and reported he had contacted state offices to flag the challenge.
City Administrator Randy Woldt said inspections will be handled differently this year; the Nebraska agency that previously conducted inspections will not do so in all cases, and local health departments may perform inspections if they choose — in which case the city would need to pay them for the service. The council agreed to consider lifeguard approvals and an ordinance at the next meeting and to reexamine pool-pass pricing, which has not changed for at least five years.
No formal wage ordinance or lifeguard appointments were finalized at the May 4 meeting.
