Jackson Center to increase rates for swimming pool

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JACKSON CENTER — The Village Council of Jackson Center approved rate increases for the municipal swimming pool at their regular meeting on Monday evening. An ordinance fixing the rates and charges for the pool as well as plans to enter into a contract with Dayton Pool Management to manage the daily operations of the pool were discussed and approved.

Increases in daily admission and annual family fees are as follows:

• Students $3.50 per day up from $3

• Adults $4 per day up from $3.50

• Annual Family passes $120 up from $110

The pool will continue to be available to rent for private occasions such as family reunions, birthday parties and other private events and the cost increases to $125 per event, a $25 increase over previous years.

Council unanimously passed a resolution to enter into a one-year contract with Dayton Pool Management to manage the operations at the pool a duty formerly handled by the city. The Village of Jackson Center will paint, fill, and winterize the pool as they have done in the past but all other business associated with running the pool operations and water treatment will now be handled by Dayton Pool who provides the necessary chemicals, testing, and administers the on-going water treatment in the contract. Dayton Pool Management will also hire the managers and lifeguards, collect fees, and supervise disciplinary administration at the pool.

Village Administrator Bruce Metz noted the changes will benefit the village financially and will give village employees more time to work on the increased work load associated with current and future projects. Metz mentioned the pool typically operates at a loss financially but it is a small price to pay for the benefit it provides for the families living in and around Jackson Center providing countless hours of good, clean, family fun during the summer months.

“Last year we had $21,000 in income from the pool and it cost us over $42,000 to operate it, that’s a deficit of nearly $22,000. The contract with Dayton Pool will cost us $56,534, and that’s for everything! Subtract current cost of operation ($42,000) and that leaves us paying around $14,000 instead of 22, a substantial decrease in cost,” said Metz. “This is something we have looked at for several years and feel we should try it out for at least one year to see how things go, we won’t know until we try; Treasurer Bev Wren looked into what others are paying to operate their poll facilities and this looks like it’s in line with the typical costs, really it appears to be a pretty good deal.”

In other business council discussed and approved plans to move ahead with the design and construction of a new vehicle storage building on Washington Street. Village will contract with Freytag and Associates who will design and conduct the bidding process to build a facility to meet the demand of a warm storage service structure with an office for the village service employees. The village is currently renting space from Airstream Inc., which owns the old Holloway Sportswear building where the vehicles are now located when not in use. The building will no longer be available when the current contract runs out. The new climate-controlled building will also allow for the storage of temperature-sensitive materials subject to damage from colder temperatures.

In administrative reports Metz shared information on the health insurance package currently being considered as the old policy will no longer be available in the near future.

“There will be a 5.3 percent increase, not bad considering the rising costs associated with healthcare,” Metz said. The village is really looking at ways to get the best deal but jokingly said “So far the only way to get the cost any lower would be for us to turn the clock back a little making us all 20 years old again … which isn’t likely to happen.”

Metz also said recent testing at the wastewater treatment plant indicated things are running smoothly and that the construction on the west side of town that includes installation of a new traffic light is on schedule.

Jerry Davis village fire chief noted the village received state grant money for six new emergency radios and that the order had been placed to get them. Council also approved the appointment of Charles Wirick to the Jackson Center Volunteer Fire Department bringing the total to 24 associates including four EMT certified staff members. The appointment of Alexis Shady to the department is pending, and will be considered later after completion of schooling and certification.

Next council discussed future plans for updating the village electrical system and is overwhelmingly leaning to go with new construction as opposed to updating the current one that is 40 years old. Village Electrical Superintendent Dave Overman noted it is time to plan for the future.

“With the growth we’ve seen over the last two years it makes sense to go with a new system with greater capacity,” said Overman.

Mayor Scott Klopfenstein cited the small variation in total cost as another incentive to go with new construction.

“It’s $2.435 million to patch up the old system or $2.775 million for a new system with more capacity, and fixing up the old one does not insure there won’t be other issues pop up with a system that is that old. A safe and reliable source of energy is crucial and we must do the right thing so insure there will be ample electricity available for growth in the future,” said Klopfenstein.

Lastly before going into executive session council heard of a report by Metz concerning an upcoming three-day test of the village computer system. The free test conducted by Cyber Security Inc. will assess current status and determine if any additions or correction of the system are needed. The testing begins on April 19, 2017.

Jackson Center Electrical Superintendent Dave Overman shows council members a bad cable connection that was found during routine preventative maintenance inspection. Had the problem not been found in time it would have led to an unexpected power outage.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/03/web1_A_MG_2694-JC-Council-3-28-2017-1.jpgJackson Center Electrical Superintendent Dave Overman shows council members a bad cable connection that was found during routine preventative maintenance inspection. Had the problem not been found in time it would have led to an unexpected power outage. Matt Clayton | Sidney Daily News
Fire department to get new radios

By Matt Clayton

For the Sidney Daily News

The writer is a regular contributor to the Sidney Daily News.

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