by Marty Trese, KnoxPages.com Managing Editor
MOUNT VERNON – Despite concerns about the finances of the city-owned Hiawatha Water Park & Pool, no major changes are in the works for the 2015 season. On Monday afternnon the office of Mayor Richard Mavis released a list of final decisions regarding rules at the pool:
- 70 degrees F. to determine if park will open
- Coolers may still be brought in
- No food orders to be delivered to park
- No time changes
- No admission changes
A public meeting of the City Recreation Board held February 4th featured discussion of ways to increase pool revenue. The facility on Sychar Road was built in 2007 at a cost of about $3.4 million with a 20 year debt attached. In each of the last 7 years, the pool’s expenses have exceeded income. The total loss for 2014 season was over $105-thousand dollars.
Council member Mike Hillier has said he would like the pool to be run more like a business. The pool operates a concession stand but visitors are allowed to bring in their own coolers and food and, even order pizza for delivery at the pool, which cuts down on concession stand profits. Hillier said, “I think definitely if we are going to have a concession stand open we might as well make money on it.”
The final rules by the Rec Board that Mavis’ office announced address the concern about pizza deliveries at the pool.
Council member Susan Kahrl says a discussion regarding suggestions made at the February meeting was planned for this Wednesday’s Rec Board meeting at 7 p.m. in the basement conference room of City Hall. But apparently that discussion won’t happen now that the final decision on pool rules listed above has been made. Kahrl says that may have been necessary by the Rec Board executive committee so that flyers promoting 2015 pool memberships could be printed in a timely manner.
The rates for admission to the park on a daily basis will be:
Individuals: Noon-5 p.m.: $7 , 5 p.m. to close: $5
Children ages 1-5: Noon-5 p.m. $4, 5 p.m. to close $3
Seniors 60+: Noon-5 p.m. $6, 5 p.m. to close $4
Children under one: FREE
(source www.mountvernonoio.org)
