Preparation for community pool's summer season underway

Jan. 28—WEST MIDDLESEX — It may still be winter, but work is already underway preparing for the Lackawannock-Shenango-West Middlesex Community Pool's summer season.

Located in West Middlesex, the community pool is owned by Lackawannock Township, Shenango Township and West Middlesex, but managed by the Mercer County Regional Council of Governments.

Brian Foster, COG director of recreation, said he would normally make the first major pool announcement on April 1, sharing information such as pool hours and the costs of passes and rentals.

That kickoff will still take place this year, but Foster said seasonal employees — including two lifeguards, a concession worker and maintenance staff — about returning this year.

Customers have also started contacting Foster about rentals and season passes, he said.

"This will be my 18th season with the pool, and I don't think I've ever been contacted this early before," Foster said.

Aside from the interest by employees and customers, COG officials recently set the pool's budget for 2024, allowing Foster to move forward with planning and preparation for the summer season.

During the latest meeting of the COG executive board on Jan. 17, Foster reported that West Middlesex council and Lackawannock supervisors each approved $15,450 toward the pool.

However, Shenango Township supervisors approved only $15,000.

According to a video recording of Shenango Township supervisors' October meeting, Chairman Tom Hubert took particular issue with the pool budget's $30,000 allocated to the recreation director and COG administration expense.

Since people from outside Lackawannock Township, Shenango Township and West Middlesex use the pool, Hubert suggested COG could absorb some of the remaining cost.

Following Foster's report during the COG meeting, West Middlesex council member Bob Lark announced that his family would make a $450 donation toward the pool, completing the pool's budget for 2024.

The COG executive board then voted to enter into an agreement for the operation of the community pool for the 2024 season.

In 2022, COG officials asked the representatives from the three municipalities that own the pool to increase their contributions from $3,500 to $15,000, which COG officials said accurately reflected the true cost of operating the pool.

According to a 1975 agreement, the cost of operating the pool would be shared between the three municipalities. At some point, COG took over administration of the pool, and gradually absorbed more of the pool's operating costs.

COG Executive Director Jill Boozer said all of COG's member municipalities pay toward shared services, such as IT services or use of certain equipment.

The budget for COG's transportation services is entirely separate from COG's regular budget, and must be reviewed by state and federal agencies.

"COG doesn't own the pool," Boozer said. "COG doesn't have taxing power, and our members are paying toward the services they all use, so we don't have funds to just absorb the cost."

The increase to $15,450 from each municipality this year was based on wage increases, along with other potential costs such as concessions and maintenance, Foster said.

Also outlined in the 1975 agreement was the creation of a pool committee, comprised of nine members from the three municipalities. A new iteration of the committee was formed last year, with COG officials acting in an advisory role.

Last year, the committee's members met a few times to oversee the pool's operations and discuss funding opportunities. The members were even able to contribute some municipal services toward the pool when possible, Foster said.

"It was things like grass cutting, painting or certain tools, but it probably saved us about $300," Foster said.

This year, the committee's members would like to pursue some improvements at the pool using $30,000 in CARES Act funds, with $10,000 contributed by each municipality.

Aside from the CARES Act funds, the committee members hope to secure Act 13 funds from the county, as well as potential state funds.

"West Middlesex Mayor Stacy Curry, who heads the pool committee, said she's been in touch with Sen. Michele Brooks' office about possibly getting some funds from the state," Foster said.

Depending on how much funding is ultimately secured, Foster said the committee's members are interested in installing a heater at the pool. This heater would help the pool maintain an average water temperature of about 70 degrees.

"In May and early June, there are nights where it can get as low as 50 degrees, and it takes the pool water all day to heat up again," Foster said.

Aside from the financial contributions by the three member municipalities, Foster said he would undertake his annual letter-writing campaign, which attracts some donations from local businesses and organizations.

Since the pool committee is now active again, Foster said the committee's members could follow up with those businesses contacted for the campaign.

"These are people that are familiar to the community," Foster said of the committee's members.

The committee members are also in the process of planning a fundraiser to support the pool. The fundraiser, a pancake breakfast, is planned for March 9, with more information to be announced in the future.

Attendance at the community pool in 2023 amounted to 2,324 admittances, compared to 3,953 admittances in 2022 and 3,781 admittances in 2021, according to COG information.

Of those attendees in 2023, 39% were from Lackawannock Township, Shenango Township and West Middlesex, while the remaining 61% came from the rest of Mercer County, and elsewhere, the information states.

Foster said that decrease in 2023 was likely due to lingering economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, considering pool attendance was otherwise trending upward before and after the pandemic.

"I think a lot of people last summer had to choose between paying for gas, paying for food and going to the pool, and recreation's usually the first thing people cut when money is tight," Foster said.

Updates on the community pool can be found at the "Swimming at the LSWM Pool. ( West Middlesex Community Pool)" Facebook page.

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.