Relax, Pearl Street Pool swimmers and fanatics — here’s looking at you, kid with the floaties — the public swimming pool this summer will return to its normal hours of operation.
The Centralia City Council on Tuesday night decided there’s enough money in reserves — over $2.5 million — and some of that cash can make a little splash in 2010’s woeful city budget.
The Centralia City Council had eliminated the Pearl Street Pool, the Economic Development Department and other services last November from the 2010 budget, citing low revenues.
But Councilor Lee Coumbs, during routine council member reports at the Monday meeting, made a motion to withdraw $50,000 from the city’s reserve budget for running the pool this summer.
Councilor Bonnie Canaday then pledged $5,000 to pool operations from the Pearl Street Pool’s Friends in Need, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping keep the pool open and where Canaday is a treasurer.
“We’ve raised money, we’ve donated cars and everything else,” Canaday said later.
With Canaday’s pledge, the motion was set at $45,000.
However, Centralia Community Development Director Emil Pierson said pool operations, including hiring lifeguards and buying chemicals, wouldn’t cost as much as $45,000.
In fact, The Chronicle reported in 2007 that the Pearl Street Pool costs about $30,000 to keep open.
Coumbs said after the meeting that the city has about $140,000 more in reserve funds than was expected a few months ago.
The council voted 6-1 to keep the Pearl Street Pool open.
“That public pool significantly contributes to the quality of life for our community,” Councilor Dan Henderson said.
Only Councilor Matt Trent voted against using reserve cash to keep the pool open, citing a personal philosophy that government shouldn’t run public pools but also noting that the 2010 budget is still lean and the city should remain fiscally attentive.
“We’ve got some obligations coming up,” Trent said. “Things really haven’t changed.”
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Adam Pearson: (360) 807-8208
