City pool opening date may be in doubt

The opening of the Greencastle city pool -- a sure sign summer is upon us -- annually seems in doubt due to the whims of Mother Nature or some lingering mechanical malady.

The aquatics center opening is two weeks from this Saturday -- May 27 to be exact -- and Park Director Rod Weinschenk isn't optimistic about having the swimming season start on time.

This time, however, it's personnel.

Or at least a lack of personnel. As of last Friday, only 10 lifeguards had been hired for the summer, while the city pool normally has 20-25 guards on its roster.

"We might have an issue with our opening date," Weinschenk advised the Park Board during its May meeting. "We never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us, but I'm afraid it's going to be like this (stormy)."

Aside from that, there's the lifeguard situation.

Not only is the roster thin but many of the guards are high school seniors, which presents a problem on May 27. For not only is that opening day at the pool, it's also graduation day for North Putnam, South Putnam and Cloverdale high schools. And Greencastle graduates the evening before, which means Saturday will be rife with GHS graduation parties.

"We may not have enough lifeguards to open," Weinschenk said of the May 27 date.

"I'm hoping to get at least 18 people," the park director said, noting that the guard staff will be able to get more hours than they have in the past with fewer guards available.

The city currently pays guards $9 an hour if they have a WSI (water safety instructor) certification or $8.25 an hour if they don't.

Meanwhile, the Park Board approved a list of aquatics center and summer park personnel, including the hiring of Erin Ray as the new aquatics director/assistant to the director.

Ray, who graduates from Indiana State University on Saturday, will start work on Monday, Weinschenk said.

Coming from the Chicago area, Ray succeeds Phil Cornelius who recently left the Greencastle post to take a similar position in Brownsburg.

Returning to the pool as assistants to the aquatics director are Sarah Beams and Mallory, who are both WSI certified.

Lifeguards approved by the board are Hayden Rudes, Trevor Sheldon, Taylor Paige Webster, Benjamin Parsons, Sal Martoglio, Hector Lezama, Aiden Baker, Nicholas Young, Kyle Young and Alexandra Gross.

Callan Taylor has been hired as concessions manager with Ethan Mooney as concession stand attendant.

Park maintenance approved are E. Jason Duncan, David Williams, Clayton Byrd and Ethan Mooney.

The summer SPARK program will again be led by Nancy Hagen with Megan Allen, Bridget Doty, Anna Monnett, Michelle Miller, Lisa Toole, Isaiah Long, Lindsey Conley and Taylor VanSickle hired as instructors.

In other business, the Park Board:

-- Authorized the annual C.A.R.R. 5K to be run on portions of the People Pathway. It is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, beginning at 6 p.m. and starting at Deer Meadow School.

-- Granted the annual Summer Enrichment Program request for free use of the pool for its youngsters from 12:15-2 p.m. each day the program is in session. The enrichment program will purchase swim lessons for 65 students and then bring half of those children at a time to use the pool.

-- Learned that during recent thunderstorms, one sign and the kick board at the soccer fields were damaged at Big Walnut Sports Park, while several large limbs brought down by high winds had to be cleaned up at Jaycee Park.

-- Heard Weinschenk report that approximately 24 trees were planted at Robe-Ann Park and Big Walnut Sports Park between Earth Day and Arbor Day ceremonies.

-- Heard Weinschenk report that 30 youngsters have signed up for the SPARK program thus far.

Joining Weinschenk for the May meeting were board members Beva Miller, John Hennette and Cathy Merrell along with ex-officio member Wayne Lewis and City Council park liaison Steve Fields. Board member Tim Trigg was absent.

The next regular session of the Greencastle Park Board is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1 at City Hall.