News
Pool will open for the summer
Scott Wagar
06/10/2014
After a long search to find employees for the Bottineau Public Swimming Pool, a manager and lifeguards have been hired and the pool is estimated to open sometime this week.
In the past years, the public pool, which is over 40 years old, has seen some maintenance difficulties that caused the pool to open and close periodically. Last season, the swimming pool had a number of maintenance issues, which left the pool with the least amount of open days for public use in its history.
This year, the primary problem was finding staff to operate the pool for the summer. In the May City Council meeting, it was decided by the city’s council members that if they couldn’t find staff by the beginning of June they would not open the pool for the summer.
As the council came together for the June City Council meeting on June 2, the pool committee stated it was able to hire a manager and enough lifeguards to open for the season.
Brianna DeFoe will be the pool’s manager and will have eight lifeguards to care for the swimmers. Of the seven lifeguards, there are a number of them who are certified and can offer swimming lessons through the season.
Outside of DeFoe and the lifeguards, Kevin Milbrath will care for the maintenance and water quality of the pool.
Presently, Milbrath, DeFoe and the lifeguards are completing the final preparations for the pool’s operation, which includes caulking the space between the basin and deck, which is the primary reason for the pool being closed so much last summer.
One item that will not be offered this summer to the swimmers is the high dive board at the pool because it doesn’t meet safety regulations due to the fact the railing for the board doesn’t extend out past the cement foundation.
The tentative hours for the public swimming pool are Monday through Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. The tentative times for water aerobics will be Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to 8:30 p.m. and lap swimming on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
Individuals who wish to learn more about the pool can call 228-3031.