Council hears that staffing shortfall may keep Strawberry Point pool closed

The council spent substantial time discussing whether the Strawberry Point municipal pool can open this summer after the city administrator said candidate availability and certification gaps left the city with roughly 6–7 full-time-equivalent lifeguards — about half of the staff needed to operate part-time.

The administrator provided specific applicant details: 13 applicants contacted; six had other jobs, six played organized sports, five planned to be out of town for at least two weeks, and five would not be certified until June or July. She said one applicant wanted the manager role but "was not willing to be certified as a lifeguard," which she called problematic. "I came up with, we have about 6 or 7 full time equivalents, which is 0.5 of what we need to open the pool," she said. The administrator said the city believes it needs 10 FTE to open part-time and around 12–14 to open full time; state rules require a minimum number of certified lifeguards on duty (four at any given time), and insurance will not cover the city if staffing requirements are unmet.

Council members expressed concern about losing a long-standing amenity for children and families if the pool remains closed; one council member suggested limited hours (Thursday through Sunday) as a possible compromise, while the administrator said part-time opening would still be risky if a single absence forced immediate closure. The administrator said the cost for capital improvements is budgeted but the operational staffing gap is the key barrier to opening.