MASON CITY – Some folks were already slightly perturbed that the Mason City pool wasn’t going to open until Monday, Memorial Day. Then, it didn’t open at all. It is now sitting, empty.
Only the scattered rain showers are filling the Mason City pool today. It sat this holiday weekend with no water in it; no children laughing and leaping into its cool chemical waters. Campers at nearby MacNider Campground looked on, longingly pining (at least Saturday) for a dip in the crystal-clear waters that were not. One camper from Des Moines said, “at least they are opening Monday, but there’s no water in the pool. Not sure how that’s gonna happen. Other pools have already opened. I think the missed the boat over this holiday.”
Monday arrived, and no water was in the pool. It rained off-and-on that day, and the temps were cool, then warm later.
Still, the pool remains unfilled as the week progresses.
Despite publicity that the pool would open on May 25 – as many thought it would – a later decision was made not to open the pool until June 5.
Recreation Director Brian Pauly, who works with a very tight budget, made a presentation to the city council in April, asking to keep the pool closed until June 5.
“I made the decision in April to present to the Parks and Recreation Board not to open until June 5th; we did not receive any negative feedback at that time,” Mr. Pauly told NIT Tuesday.
“(City administrator Brent) Trout announced the pool date at the City Council meeting on April 21st, we receive only three feedbacks and two of them are from lap swimmers that wanted us to only open early for them and one from a family that attends regular hour at our facility,” Mr. Pauly continued. “I try my very best to make decision that are right for the community and are fiscally responsible to our citizens.”
It is understandable that word about the later start date didn’t reach most of the public, since hardly anyone ever attends city meetings, but the ignorance of the public to the new start date may have given the city a black eye.
Mr. Pauly also offered the following reasons for the later opening date of the Mason City pool:
1) Memorial Day is early this year. The average temperature on May 24th is 73 degrees. Most pools in the state of Iowa have a requirement not to open unless it is 75 degrees. Even though, Mason City Family Aquatic Center does not have this rule, I believe it is very cool to swim outside below 75 degrees and this is back by extremely lower gate numbers anytime it does not get above 80 degrees.
2) The late last day of school for Mason City Community Schools and Newman Schools. Mason City Community Schools last day of school is June 9th and Newman Schools last day of school is June 4th. Each of these schools have a number of end of the year activities that would also hinder our evening attendance.
3) I try to be (financially responsible) for my department. With the high probability of cold weather starting May 24th through the June 3rd, the daily gate and concession would not even come near covering chemical cost over this time. No matter if we are open or close our pool must be at certain chemicals levels by state code and that average cost is $90 to $110 a day. A rainy and windy day like last Sunday would cost us as high as $150 a day. This does not included heating cost and seasonal staff salaries.
