LAKEPORT — The Westshore Pool located at Clear Lake High School is no longer in danger of closing after the Lakeport City Council passed its budget July 29.
The possibility of closing the pool entered the city”s budget discussions in July after City Manager Jerry Gillham asked Lake County Channel Cats (LCCC) president Jennifer Hanson if the swim team could take over operating the pool, saying the only other option was to close the pool. Hanson said the team could not afford annual operating costs.
The pool serves as the training ground for the LCCC, a competitive swim team that also teaches children to swim. The city”s 2008-09 budget includes $75,981 for operations, maintenance, salaries and benefits. Direct operating costs were estimated to be $45,220. The high school, the city and LCCC split the operational costs and the use of the pool, according to Hanson. The LCCC”s annual share is approximately $8,000.
“I think we”re good at least for another year,” Hanson said.
Hanson said the team made approximately $10,000 at its annual Swim-A-Lot fundraiser, an amount she said was more than usual.
“We”re hoping to run a winter program like we did last year because we did really well with fund raisers this summer,” Hanson said.
The winter program would extend the swim team”s pool use to November. For the team to afford the extension, Hanson sad at least a third of its current 150 summer team members would need to participate in the winter swim. She said approximately 30 are interested so far.
She said LCCC is planning a Bingo fundraiser at the Lakeport Senior Center Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. For more information, call Hanson at 263-3131.
Public Works Secretary Tina Banuet said she received “an overwhelming amount of phone calls” from citizens concerned that the pool was closed for the season.
The pool is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. until the swim season ends Aug. 30, according to Banuet. The cost of admission for adults is $4, and $3 for children ages 2 to 17. Family passes are also available for $15, and admit two adults and three children per pass.
Adult swim is held Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., and admission is $2 per day. Swim lessons are also available between Aug. 11 and Aug. 21 for $60 per child. For more information, call 263-5615, extension 22.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
