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Council questions pool hours, lifeguard staffing and safety under Ordinance No. 578
Summary
Councilors pushed for longer summer pool hours while Recreation Director warned of staffing limits, safety and insurance concerns; Manager Cummins said she could accommodate some later hours but flagged lighting and liability issues.
Councilors at the Feb. 2 meeting revisited Ordinance No. 578 governing Eunice’s municipal pool hours, fees and rules and pressed Recreation Director Gayla Rouse for options to extend summer hours.
Councilor Ty Chanley said residents have asked for later evening swim time; Rouse said lifeguard staffing constraints and safety concerns limit night openings. "The pool is not a money maker. It's a money loser," Rouse said, describing recent scheduling changes that cut payroll costs while adding two hours of weekly service compared with a prior year.
Councilor Curtis Rouse asked whether adding hours would require hiring more staff; Rouse said she currently staffs about 20 hours per lifeguard position and has divided work into multiple part‑time slots because many local teens want to work. Manager Cummins said she would consider accommodating swim events up to 9 p.m. where safety, lighting and insurance requirements are met, but said she was uncomfortable with proposals for late‑night parties that would extend into early morning hours.
Councilors asked staff to return with proposals that pair desired hours with clear plans for lifeguard staffing, lighting, insurance coverage and anticipated costs so the council can weigh community benefit against safety and budget impacts.
