Aquatic Center Second Year Attendance Rises

In an abbreviated agenda, the Sidney City Council heard Tuesday that attendance for the Sidney Aquatic Center rose by nearly 300 in its second year.

After approving minutes from its last meeting, Council's next action turned to discussion of December meetings. With its second scheduled meeting falling right after Christmas, council members agreed to hold just one meeting in December.

In his report on the pool, Sidney Parks Superintendent Tom Von Seggern told council last summer 14,682 people went to the pool over the 97-day season, averaging 150 attendees per day. Daily gate admissions (tickets) were down 18 percent, VonSeggern said, but added that was offset by a greater number of season passes purchased. More than 5,600 entries were made with daily tickets, while those holding season passes used them an average of 30 times.

Attendance revenue was down slightly from 2016, with the pool taking in $64,092. Von Seggern explained that figure reflected the use of discounted rates, based on families' qualification under the free and reduced lunch program. At the same time, concession stand revenue rose just more than $400.

Von Seggern showed that expenses rose about $11,000, from $173,711 to $184,773. The rise was almost the same as a rise of insurance costs. Von Seggern said when the pool moved from the old Bertrun O'Conner facility, the city used estimates for attendance at the new pool, on which insurance rates are based.

"We didn't estimate it high enough, so the higher insurance cost more accurately reflects our numbers," Von Seggern said. He said he doesn't expect that particular figure to change significantly in the future.

Von Seggern also said he hopes to keep the city's portion of the pool cost to remain about the same in the future. The city subsidized the pool with $110,579, or around 60 percent of the total budget over the facility's revenue. He feels that 60 percent share should be consistant.

In the meantime, Von Seggern and Kiersten Richards, pool manager, will continue to monitor staffing, length of season and hours of operation, and fees as the facility moves forward.

One of those figures, staffing, is not very flexible. Richards and Von Seggern explained that staff of eight life guards on duty with two resting, is set based upon the pool's capacity. About the only flexibility in staffing costs are directly tied to the number of days the pool is open and hours of operation. On days where night swimming is offered, the pool is open up to 13 hours.

After accepting the pool report, council went into executive session for the purpose of discussing land negotiations.