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Aquatic superintendent Kim Cooper is getting a little more sleep lately. Things for the summer season and for the Lehi City Outdoor Public Pool are starting to come together.
Going from 35 lifeguards to 60-70 in two months was a concern because of attrition to higher paying facilities. Lehi lifeguards are now making more than fast food employees, because city leaders have opted to raise their base pay to $7.50 an hour. "We are in the process of adjusting our pay for our lifeguards to be consistent with other local public pools," city administrator Jamie Davidson said. "We're trying to catch up to attract and retain employees." Some 30 people are also taking a lifeguarding class and if they stay with the city for three months will be reimbursed the $150 class fee. The graduates will give Cooper at least 65 guards by May 23 when the Lehi Outdoor Pool opens. Pool passes will be on sale May 10 and May 17, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the outdoor pool, 451 E. 200 South, Lehi. New features for the old pool include a improved Kamakazi slide. "It's guaranteed for 15 years," Cooper said and smiled. "No ruined bathing suits, no bleeding. You laugh, but we have had a problem with that in the past." The old slide has had an ongoing problem with fiberglass slivers snagging patrons as they slid by tearing at suits and skin. No more. The city has found a company that began refurbishing the Kamakazi wonder Wednesday. "It will be nice when it's done," Cooper said. "We're excited." The children's wading pool also received a new lining and is done. The splash pool at the end of the huge pool slide will be completed after the contractors have completed the slide lining. Kamakazi will have new steps, the old ones were rotting. Last week, high school students began painting the fence and the rest of the metal infrastructure at the outdoor facility. In addition to upgrading the Lehi City Public Outdoor Pool, city leaders have also invested in cryptosporidium prevention and cure. They are adopting a new policy Monday for toddlers, 3 and younger, at both the outdoor pool and the aquatic center on 123 N. Center St. Swim diapers and elastic plastic pants that fit snuggly around the legs and waist will be required to prevent accidental spillage into pool waters. Swim diapers and rubber pants will be on sale at the Legacy Center and at the outdoor pool for those parents who need them for their children. Disposable diapers will be $1 and the elastic reusable pants will be $6. The new policy is an effort by the city to prevent cryptosporidium parasites, found in human waste, from tainting public pool water. When a swimmer swallows infected pool water, the parasite causes runny diarrhea with stomach cramps or pain, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss. Lehi City also has spent $52,000 on an ultraviolet system that kills cryptosporidium within six hours for the Legacy Center leisure pool where there is greater risk of infection. For the other pools, there is an ozone disinfectant system or ozonator that will clean the water within 24 hours. According to Cooper, the public pools in Lehi have never had a cryptosporidium incident. "There's nothing we can do to stop crypto from entering the water, only people can do that," said Cooper. "The only thing we can do is treat it." Outdoor pool season pass sale
Dates: May 10, May 17
Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Place: 451 E. 200 South, Lehi.
Cost: $150, family resident; $175, family nonresident; individual resident, $80; individual nonresident, $100. Families over six members, additional charges.
The Lehi City Public Pool opens May 23 |
