Beaver City Council weighs keeping municipal pool open as new wellness center opens

Beaver City Council on June 23 discussed the future of the municipal swimming pool as a new wellness center prepares to open July 1. Jordan Collins, who was introduced to the council to report on pool operations, said the pool is shortstaffed and that the city needs at least five certified lifeguards to run classes safely.

“Yesterday we had 42,” Jordan Collins said when asked about attendance, describing summer peaks and lower winter usage. Collins explained that staff have advertised and identified two potential applicants but that formal applications had not yet been submitted; she said the pool can operate at reduced hours if full staffing cannot be achieved.

Council members and staff discussed short‑term options — cutting certain days or hours, limiting rentals, and targeted recruitment — and longer‑term capital decisions. One council member suggested that a million‑dollar investment to repair the aging pool footprint could instead be spent on a splash pad and repurposing adjacent parkland. The mayor responded that while he supports recreation, any ongoing operation will require meaningful capital investment and a spot on the capital priority list.

The council agreed to monitor lifeguard applicant numbers for a week and reconvene. Staff were directed to report back with updated applicant counts and a proposed phased plan if necessary. The working decision was to attempt to keep the pool open through the remainder of the calendar year, recognizing the outcome depends on recruitment and training timelines.

If staffing remains insufficient, council discussed phased reductions in services (for example cutting Tuesday/Thursday or Saturday hours) and prioritizing capital funds based on the pool’s condition and community needs. Staff noted that winter use typically falls to about 10–20 daily users while summer can reach 30–40 on routine busy days.