LAKEPORT — The Lake County Channel Cats (LCCC) swim team hopes to make a big splash with ongoing efforts to raise money for Westlake Pool located at Clear Lake High School at an upcoming bingo night fundraiser.
The funds will help the swim team pay to heat the pool and one-third of the pool”s yearly cost of operations, including utilities, chemicals and direct pool-related costs. Insurance and staff costs are covered by the city for its use of the pool in the summer.
Of the city”s pool budget of $148,502 for 2007-08, the city has asked LCCC and the Lakeport School District to pay about $18,000 each, according to Public Works Superintendent Doug Grider. Heating the pool costs LCCC about $1,000 per week for propane. LCCC president Jennifer Hanson said the team is still in negotiations with the city to determine how much they will pay. “There are not any firm numbers, we”re waiting for them to finish their budget and let us know. We”re willing to pay a third of the pool budget if we get a third of the hours?5:30 p.m. until dark is not a third of the hours,” Hanson said, referring to the Channel Cats” allotted time at the pool.
The city thinks the agreement is fair because LCCC uses the pool for 12 months, school use begins in February with the High School swim team and continues until June and the city uses the pool for three months in the summer.
Hanson said it would help if the county contributed to the cost of operations. “We would like to convince the county that it”s really the whole county that utilizes the pool, not just the city of Lakeport. Half of the swim team comes from Kelseyville. The county did run the pool for 30 years, so I think they feel like they”ve done their time, and they really have. But it would help if the county could kick in a little money,” Hanson said.
Since winter swim occurred the first time this year, Hanson has noticed improvement in the skills of the team. “The kids up there have become incredibly good swimmers. We had a lot of first place finishes at a November meet?without winter swim, during those three months their skills fall off, and we spend the first month in the summer getting back in shape. This way they”re able to build upon what they learned in the summer,” Hanson said.
She said it “would be nice” if the city helped keep the pool open in the winter. “It would benefit the city and give another option for fitness. They should take advantage of the fact that is currently heated. The only ones benefiting right now are the Channel Cats,” Hanson said.
Grider said it is not likely the city would open the pool for public use in the winter. “Realistically, not many people would use the pool in the winter, and the costs to hire staff would not be worth it,” Grider said.
“Kudos need to go to LCCC, because they worked with the city to make the renovations happen?they tracked the grant down,” Grider said.
A grant found by LCCC covered $135,000 of the total renovation costs of $340,000. The renovation finished in 2007, in time for the pool to open in the summer. “The city picked up the difference,” Grider said. The city currently pays about $1,000 per month in electricity.
Hanson said the high cost of heating the pool will likely mean next winter the pool will close during December, when the pool is used less due to the holidays.
A fundraiser for the pool will be hosted by the LCCC Saturday, Feb. 16. Family Bingo Night is set to take place at the Lakeport Senior Center located at 527 Konocti Avenue. Doors open at 4:45 p.m., bingo starts at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person. LCCC is hoping at least 250 people attend the fundraiser, Hanson said.
Yuba College”s culinary program will provide dinner at 5 p.m. Ghirardelli cocoa, mochas, lattes and coffee provided by Aroma Roasters. Free child care will be available, and children are welcome to play bingo. For more information, please call 263-3131.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
