No more free daily swimming due to kids vandalizing pool

City administrators believed that if the entry was raised to $1 there might be a little more control since prior to offering free entry there had not been concerns over vandalism.

City Clerk Cher Reyes noted that another reason for the dollar fee is that the minimum wage went up to $10 per hour and all the lifeguards must be paid that wage. “I am, through summer rec, going to offer free family nights on Mondays, as long as kids come with someone who is over 17 years of age,” she said.

She noted that on a nice summer day the pool has an average of 125 to 135 kids in the pool. “It’s usually not swimming room, more like standing room,” she noted.

Vice Mayor Wade Carlisle said he felt some good supervision would control the problem. “All you have to do is kick two or three kids out and be serious about it, and I guarantee you that the vandalism would go down. It’s a simple discipline situation,” he stated.

Reyes replied, “We do have a black list; you get warned and the next time you’re out for the season and the list is posted on the wall.” She also noted that the lifeguards go through the bathrooms every 15 minutes. “It’s ridiculous what goes on in a 15-minute period,” she added.

After the discussion, the council voted in favor of reinstating a fee of $1 for use of the pool by kids 15 and under.

The council received a request from NARBHA Institute to allow an easement through the property on Hermosa Drive where the old Northland Pioneer Campus was with the option for the city to relocate that easement at any time. That request came after the council decided at the last meeting to only allow an easement on the south side of the property.

After some discussion it was decided that to stay with the decision to allow an easement on the south side of the property that can be removed or changed any time in the future if needed.

In his report to the council, Sullivan said that the airport runway lights went out and will cost $12,000 to repair. “I’m working on an existing airport grant that we have and trying to work that into the grant. Hopefully, it will pay for that otherwise I don’t know where the money will come from right now.” A notification has gone out to pilots until that is repaired.

In an effort to promote tourism in the city, staff is working with the Petrified Forest in getting a volunteer to provide guided tours of the Petroglyph Park near the Hidden Cove Golf Course every Saturday and Sunday, starting Memorial Day weekend and going through Labor Day.

Sullivan also noted that he is working with the Arizona Department of Transportation on a drainage issue on Hopi Drive. “They have some engineering ideas and they’re working on some grates,” he said.

In addition, the roadwork on Eleventh Street is complete and the bathrooms are finished being built at Lisitzky Park. Work has also continued at the dog park located at the north end of Navajo Blvd.

The design for the new soccer field that will be located to the west of the swimming pool in Hunt Park has been completed by Sullivan, John Guttery and Michael Young, and the project will be moving forward soon.

Sullivan also noted that the economic development committee consisting of volunteers selected by Mayor Bobby Tyler would be meeting later this month to start going through ideas regarding economic development.

In other action, the council:

* Approved a an expenditure of $1,500 to the HELP Coalition for Holbrook Grad Night.

* Approved a resolution adopting a Fair Housing policy.

* Approved claims and payments totaling $185,226.94.

* Approved claims and payment to Walt’s Hardware in the amount of $810.17 and The Tribune-News in the amount of $603.47.