(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This happens every year.”

 

Those were the words of Commissioner Tony Amadio at the May 11 work session, and the “this” that he referred to was the struggle to hire lifeguards for the Old Economy Pool in Baden. Parks & Recreation director Tony Caltury brought up the subject at the work session, which took place with just over two and a half weeks until Memorial Day weekend…the weekend that the pool usually opens its doors to the public.

Caltury warned, however, that those doors may not open unless more lifeguards come onto the staff at Old Economy Pool. “Last year’s lifeguard crew was mostly like seniors in college that have since graduated or will graduate this year,” Caltury said. “I’m just concerned about the level of safety in opening with the current numbers.”

In recent years, the pool operated on weekends for the first couple of weeks following Memorial Day before going to a full week of operation. But Caltury says that the option to delay the Memorial Day start, as well as the possibility of moving to only five days a week, are being considered for the near future. Currently there are four committed lifeguards to the Old Economy Pool staff; Caltury says that six to eight are needed for safe operation.

The next commissioners’ work session is scheduled for May 18 at 10:00 AM.