Expect changes at Spencer Family Aquatic Center in 2009

In the Spencer Park Board members' review of two Spencer Park and Recreation Department proposed budgets -- the 2009-10 operation budget and the 2010-14 capital improvement plan (CIP) -- Spencer Park and Recreation Director Delray Bredehoeft outlined two very different plans this week. While the operation budget's 3 percent growth model is what other city departments have been assigned, the CIP has been deemed "a pretty aggressive" five-year plan.

Of the park department's operational budget items -- which encompass the city's campground, cemetery, parks and aquatic center -- Bredehoeft reported they'd "pretty much achieved" the overall 3 percent goal. But one main area -- the Spencer Family Aquatic Center -- garnered discussion among board members in regard to potential ways in which costs could be better controlled.

"Our revenues this last year were down about $11,000," Bredehoeft said. "...That's $11,000 that we're going to have to make up in the general (budget). So, it's not only lost revenue, it turns into an expense. And, it really hurts the overall picture."

"That $11,000 loss in revenue kind of kicked it (the department's budget) up over the 3 percent," Bredehoeft added. "Which is why we're really looking at how we can control that."

The two main areas he's planning to focus on, as well as get a better handle on, this fiscal year are labor and utility costs.

"We're budgeting about $40,000 for utilities, which is electricity that runs the pumps, lights and that type of thing. It's the water bill and the gas bill for the heater," he explained. "We're going to really start looking at seeing if we can get those costs under control."

While the Spencer Family Aquatic Center has historically remained open from Memorial Day until Labor Day, to cut costs it may be opened on June 1 and closed on Sept. 1, 2009 this upcoming season.

"When school starts, we might close the pool down. Because what happens is when school started, we would close down during the week and we would run on the weekends. But we have to treat and heat all that water in preparation for the weekend, which is a lot of cost for two weeks. We don't get a lot of revenue during that time. I guess we'll just have to decide whether or not that's worth the effort," Bredehoeft said.

Closing the aquatic center one hour earlier in the evening, and possibly staying open until 8:30 p.m. at least one night a week may be another option pursued to trim costs.

Proposed Capital Improvement Projects

Bredehoeft mentioned he is currently researching the cost-effectiveness, as well as the labor costs tied to the purchase of a pool cover, a programmable thermostat for heating the pool's 240,000 gallons of water, and the possibility of shutting off three of the aquatic center's four pumps for longer periods of time.

Another change -- in the form of a minimal charge -- may occur this season with the free swimming lessons which have been offered at the Spencer Family Aquatic Center.

"We've been providing free swimming lessons, basically, to anyone that wanted to sign up," Bredehoeft said, mentioning 200 signed up last year. "Spencer is probably the only city in the state of Iowa that offers free swimming lessons."

As Bredehoeft transitioned to the Spencer Park and Recreation Department's five-year CIP projects, as listed above, he said, "I think this is a pretty aggressive program. And to make this all happen, we'll be pulling money out of the general (fund). There will be some from Local Option Sales Tax. ... And then we'll be pulling some money out of reserve too to match the generals, to make it all work out."

In action taken Tuesday night, Spencer Park Board members:

-Approved a $17,045 quote from Schoonover Tuckpointing of Vinton for tuckpointing the East Leach Park bandshell. Additional quotes were submitted from fellow Vinton companies Karr Tuckpointing, for $24,724, and Vinton Tuckpointing, for $24,560.