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TRUMAN-- The Truman City Council on Monday considered what it could do to bring in more lifeguards for the summer pool season. If it doesn't get more to apply, the council may need to drop the hours or number of days the pool is open.
Pool commissioner Faith Clow told the council she has four lifeguards committed. While she had two more who were supposed to undergo the required training soon, they recently backed out.
"Three are coming back from last year and one is taking his training," Clow said.
She said the lifeguards she does have are talking to their friends and looking for other potential guards. She said a call for lifeguards has also been posted on Facebook.
This year the city is also looking to add a new pool manager position. The desire is to have an adult who can manage the staff and oversee operations at the pool. Right now just one person has applied for that position and the council has yet to interview them.
"We're running out of time if we want to open on June 3," Clow said.
If there are only three or four guards who can work, the council discussed cutting hours or days because of staffing issues.
"Everyone is running into it. It's horrible. It's sad," said Mayor Jake Ebert.
He asked whether they need to increase the pay. Clow said no one is balking at the pay.
Council Member Ron Kelley asked whether it would help if they offer to pay for the training. Clow wasn't too confident that it would. She said the required lifeguard training is under $150 and in the past they've given lifeguards $100 after the end of their first year and again if they return.
"If we pay for their training and then they go to Fairmont or wherever they go..." Clow said.
Still, the council discussed running an ad offering to pay for the training in order to help recruit more lifeguards.
The council then discussed ordering supplies and whether it should wait to see if more people apply to be lifeguards. Ebert pointed out that supplies are already budgeted for.
"If we don't order supples, we're going to be in trouble. I don't want (the pool to not open) because we didn't order something," Ebert said.
"The pool won't open if we don't have people to work there. It's that simple," Council Member Patty Truax said.
In other news, the council heard an update from acting police chief, Mike Schutz, who is filling the role following the resignation of Justine Jobe at the last council meeting.
Schutz said he is in need of joining a new union due to his position within the department changing. He said that there are other unions out there but he will need to get together with Ebert and Council Member Brian Nickerson to discuss what the terms are.
Moving to other matters, Utility Foreman, Brent Brown went over a number of utility business items. First, he spoke about repairs needed on the Jetter truck. Brown said that the main gear box fell apart and is shot.
"The parts to repair it... the gear box we can get for $11,000. The strainer they need to
manufacture," Brown said.
"Eleven thousand for the gear box?" asked Kelley.
Ebert said it sounded like it would be about $30,000 to get the truck operational again. Brown said it would be at least $15,000 in parts He said it is a 1993 truck.
"How far do we want to go with it," Brown asked.
Street Superintendent John Bosshart said that one mechanic looked at it and was unsure if they wanted to attempt to fix it.
"We've only had it six years and it was supposed to be the best thing ever. That's what was promised to us," said Ebert.
Truax recommended getting the truck looked at by someone else and then going from there.
Brown also asked the council whether it wanted to adopt the municipal utility services handbook. He said it supersedes previous policy as past policies and fees have been updated and cleaned up. The council approved of the new handbook.