04/12/2024
I am making this post in regards to our municipal pool. The commission voted to attempt opening the pool this year. The opening is contingent on a few things. First of all we have to have a full staff of lifeguards and a manager. We have had issues getting applicants in the past and this was the reason for not opening last season. This is not just a Yale issue. Surrounding towns are running into the same problem. Second, we have to get the pool repainted in time to get it filled before season starts. Phillip is working on that.
The main reason for this post is to bring awareness to the dire straights of our local pool. We recently had an evaluation done to see exactly what our pool needs and to get an estimate for repairs. There are several issues that threaten it's future. These are major repairs that will not only affect the functionality of the pool itself, but also bring everything up to code and state standards. We have skated by in the past due to the age of the pool and being grandfathered in. At a minimum these repairs and changes would cost around $340,000. For a complete overhaul, including a brand new wading pool, we are looking at closer to $800,000. This is where the public comes into play. The last few seasons that the pool was open, attendance was very low. The last season I believe we averaged 3 people per day. Pool parties did good, but the daily attendance was the issue. It is very difficult to justify spending the funds to fix our pool if we don't have people using it. Plus it is hard to keep lifeguards when they are being sent home early on a daily basis. I would not hesitate to spend the money if I knew the citizens were going to utilize it. So if we can get everything ready and open this season, take your kids to the pool. If you have ideas to improve attendance we would love to hear them.
I guess what I am trying to say is, we are attempting one last shot to save a gem that is on its last leg. Show up and show us that we want to save our pool.
-Jason Brown
