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Mitchell residents press board on kiddie pools as park officials prioritize shelter, ADA and liability reviews
Summary
Residents presented a petition asking the city to allow kiddie pools at the dog park and proposed storage brackets; board members said no permanent action has been taken, noted $10,000 budgeted for concrete for a shelter approach path, and cited ADA, mosquito and liability concerns that will keep the issue under review.
Selina Voss, a Mitchell business owner and frequent dog-park user, told the Park & Recreation Board she collected 89 signatures supporting temporary kiddie pools at the city dog park to help dogs cool off on hot days and proposed pooled storage brackets behind a planned lean-to.
"It's vital for dogs to have proper hydration," Voss said, presenting pictures and a packet to the board and urging officials to consider a storage solution so pools would not blow away.
The board said it has not taken any permanent action to allow pools and emphasized that any permanent policy change would have to be placed on a future agenda. "We have not discussed any action as far as leaving them out there or any permanent action," a board member said in response to questions.
Board and staff discussion focused on completing a shelter and improving access before tackling a pool policy. Staff said $10,000 is budgeted this year for a 6-foot concrete sidewalk to reach one or two potential shelter locations near existing benches; the timing of construction is constrained by ADA requirements and other scheduling, and staff said work likely would occur in the fall.
Park staff also reported outreach to other cities: most of the jurisdictions contacted do not allow shared kiddie pools in dog parks, while one community uses a rubber stock tank on a concrete pad and treats standing water to control mosquitoes. Board members cited public-health and liability concerns — including risks from fecal contamination and parvovirus — and questioned who would be responsible for sanitizing or supervising privately owned pools placed on city property.
An anonymous email read at the meeting asked whether the city would be liable if a child, dog or adult were injured or drowned in a privately owned pool left on municipal property; the board said the city attorney would be the appropriate source for a legal opinion on liability.
Several public commenters and board members suggested leaving pools in place only on a temporary, owner-controlled basis (brought in and taken home daily) and proceeding first with the shelter. "I think we start with the shelter. And then if this needs to be addressed again next year, maybe we address it again," one board member said.
The board approved routine items during the meeting, including the agenda, the May 14 minutes and the finance reports by voice vote. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript for those voice votes.
The board set its next meeting for July 19 at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned after additional facility and maintenance updates.
