By TODD HELBERG
cnedit@crescent-news.com
A possible partnership with the Defiance Area YMCA could save City Hall thousands of dollars to run Bronson Pool this summer.
The city's parks board will meet Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the city service building, 631 Perry St., to discuss a proposal
to shift Bronson pool's outdoor swim season to the Defiance Area YMCA's indoor facilities along Palmer Drive.
The parks board ultimately will make a recommendation to Defiance City Council about what to do.
"The parks board feels any idea that would benefit the
Defiance community is an idea worth discussing," said parks board chairman Dean Schrag. "An issue such as this is sure to generate public input, and that is exactly what we need -- positive and negative. We plan on using the data and the input we are supplied with and make an informed decision."
"This is something I feel would be beneficial for the city," said Mayor Bob Armstrong. "We're looking at this as a great opportunity to partner with a group that's been great for the community."
YMCA director Glenn Kuhn said his agency is willing to give the idea a try.
"I think we're willing to do it," said Kuhn. "I think it's a doable project."
Both Kuhn and Armstrong consider the idea a one-year trial for this summer.
"It would be a trial period for maybe a year to see how it would work," said Armstrong.
"We're looking at a one-year trial to see how it would work," echoed Kuhn, saying the parks board and city should decide their long-term plan. "That's only fair to everybody."
Under the proposal, City Hall would provide the YMCA with approximately $16,000 to cover its cost for assuming Bronson's pool season this summer. Kuhn said operating hours and admission prices at Bronson -- $3 per individual per day -- would remain the same or similar at the YMCA. Both of the YMCA's two pools could be used, he added.
However, Kuhn said neither would be available for city use on Sundays "because of high demand from Y members."
Kingsbury pool, which was rebuilt several years ago, would be unaffected by the YMCA partnership, and its summer season would go ahead as normal.
City Hall could save thousands of dollars by not opening Bronson pool this summer.
According to city officials, the pool cost $70,000 to operate in 2007 while it generated $7,487 in admission fees.
But there are many other concerns with that pool as well.
Armstrong said these include repairing the bathhouse, installing a new liner and fixing up cracked concrete decking. Leaking is also a significant problem with 224,000 gallons a month lost per month last year, according to a study undertaken by American Leak Detection, Bowling Green.
These repairs and others at Bronson could cost as much as $385,000, the mayor said.
City Hall, he added, can find this money in the budget, but with the pending YMCA proposal he questions whether it's necessary.
"Maybe it has served its purpose," said Armstrong of Bronson pool, which was built approximately 40 years ago.
If Bronson pool is eventually closed, what becomes of the space it now occupies?
"It could become a soccer field," Armstrong said. "Or it could become another ball field or more park land available for community use. We're always needing more park space."
Of the city's two pools, Bronson has fewer visitors. During June-August last year, Bronson had 4,049 admissions while Kingsbury had 8,657. But Bronson has also been used for Defiance Blue Dolphin swim events which could be shifted to the YMCA.
Admissions at both pools traditionally have been unable to meet expenses.
Last year Kingsbury took in $14,217 while Bronson generated $7,487. Both represent a fraction of operating expenses.