POOLS ADD SPLASH TO SUMMER FUN DESPITE FINANCIAL WORRIES

Some area swimming pools began offering respite from the spring heat last weekend, while other pool staffs are readying themselves for openings within the next couple of days.

Both the pools at Scott City and Chaffee opened Saturday. Pool workers described business as good.

"We've been very busy," Scott City Pool Assistant Manager Kelly Griffith said. "We've had about 150 people or so a day since we opened."

The manager of the Chaffee Swimming Pool, Karen Seyer, said the pool's first day turned out to be slow. "But then Sunday," she said, "we had about 70 people, Monday we had 173, and today (Tuesday) we had 163. So we're having pretty big crowds."

In Cape Girardeau, Capaha Pool also opened Saturday. The municipal pool at Central High School is scheduled to open this weekend. Workers removed its protective bubble Wednesday, about three weeks later than normal.

Depending on the weather, Central Municipal Pool will open either Saturday or Sunday, said Rosie Gottlieb, city recreation coordinator. Pool hours will be 1 to 8 p.m. every day.

Paid admission at both Central and Capaha pools is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children 13 years of age and younger. Free swim sessions will also be offered at the pool at various times, Monday through Saturday.

Jackson's pool will open Friday after school, said a City Hall spokesperson. Friday is the last day of classes for the Jackson R-2 School District.

The pool will be open from 1 to 7:30 p.m. daily, except in cases of bad weather, said the spokesperson. Admission is $1 per person; children under 4 years of age are admitted free with a paid adult admission.

City Aquatic Superintendent Dayna Miles said removal of the Central Pool bubble was postponed because of rain last week and prior to that because some members of the Cape Central High School girls swim team needed to train for the state meet. Four swimmers, one diver, and an alternate went to the state meet, held May 17 and 18, she said.

Swimmers packed the Capaha Pool Monday, said Miles.

"Saturday and Sunday (were) not very good," she said. "The weather was kind of bad and we didn't have that many people. But Monday we had a crowd like on a busy summer day when the sun comes out."

Capaha Pool Manager Vince Powell said the largest number of people in the pool Monday was approximately 180. About 20 to 50 swimmers, an average number for this time of year, visited the pool Tuesday, he said.

The pool is open all this week from 3 to 6 p.m., said Powell. Miles said the pool would probably close down after Sunday for painting. It is expected to reopen June 6, the last day of school for the Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

The summer hours for Capaha Pool will be 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The pool also offers free swims.

Officials said the costs to operate the pools keep increasing.

Scott City Park Superintendent Bud Holder said the increasing costs could possibly force the Scott City Pool to close one day.

"I don't see that, though, in the next four or five years," he said.

Each year, he said, the costs go up about 10 percent. Personnel costs are hurting the most, although pool chemical costs are also climbing, he said.

Seyer, the Chaffee pool manager, said she would like to see an increase in city park and pool taxes to meet the rising costs.

"It's making it hard, because you don't make anything. Even if you have a hot, busy summer, you still lose money on a pool."

Chaffee's pool, built in 1939, is one of the few remaining above-ground pools in the nation, Seyer said. The yearly cost to operate the pool, she estimated, is about $10,000. But she added that estimate may be nowhere close to accurate.

Miles said payroll costs have also accounted for the biggest cost increase at the Cape Girardeau pools because of increases in the minimum hourly wage.

"I couldn't tell you the percentage (of increase). But the average (life) guard last year was making $3.80, and the year before that they had been making $3.35 or $3.50, depending on their certification level."

In spite of the increases, she said, the pools have not raised their admission prices since 1979.

The hours for the Chaffee pool are 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays. The pool is open from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is $1.25 for those 12 years of age and older and 75 cents for children 11 and younger.

The Scott City Pool is open from 1 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The pool is open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Thursday.

Admission is $1.25 for those 13 years of age and older, and 75 cents for children up to age 12.