After lying dormant since September 2012, the aquatic center at Deseret Peak Complex will open this summer.
The Tooele County Commissioners approved an operating plan, including a fee schedule, for the pool at their meeting Tuesday night.
Commissioner Shawn Milne made a motion to add an emergency item to the agenda that included a new fee schedule for county facilities, including the pool.
“We are pleased to announce tonight that Isaac Astill, Tooele County facilities manager, and Mark McKendrick, parks and recreation director, have found a way to get the pool open for less than a $100,000 subsidy,” Milne said.
He explained the new fee schedule had to be added to the meeting’s agenda so the county could start advertising for personnel to operate the pool.
However, state law prohibits public bodies from taking final action on topics that are not listed on the agenda and included with the required advance notice of the meeting.
The new operating plan reduces the length of the season for the pool, reduces hours of operation, increases some fees, and includes donations from local businesses towards the facility’s operation.
The pool will open on May 24 for Memorial Day Weekend and the last day of the 2014 season will be Aug. 16, the Saturday before school starts.
Pool hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday, with swimming lessons held Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon. The pool may be rented by groups during evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The daily entrance fee remains at $4 and punch cards good for 10 entrances will sell for $30.
The fee for swimming lessons increased from $30 to $45 for eight lessons. The pool rental fee increased from $225 for a two hour period to $225 per hour.
The fee increases will cover the actual cost of services, Astill said.
The commissioners didn’t open the popular pool last year as part of their financial recovery plan. The pool had been operating with an annual deficit that ranged between $120,000 and $220,000, according to Milne.
The 2014 operating plan for the pool shows $285,518 in expenses and $221,337 in revenue, not including donations, leaving a $64,181 shortfall.
So far the county has $15,600 in received donations from US Magnesium, Utah Fabrication, Energy Solutions, and Rio Tinto to help cover the shortfall.
Pool sponsors will receive recognition in the form of a sign at the pool and free use of the pool for a company event, according to Astill.
The Tooele County Recreation Service District, which receives money from the state that is earmarked for use for roads or recreation, is considering a $10,000 grant for the Deseret Peak pool, according to Milne.
“It is really great that these businesses have stepped up to help the community,” said Astill. “We are still looking for more sponsors to help cover the costs of operating the pool.”
In regard to Milne adding an emergency item to the meeting’s agenda, Tooele County Attorney Doug Hogan said he advised the commissioners prior to the meeting that Utah Association of Counties’ guidelines suggests that, while state law does not address the issue of emergency agenda items, urgent or emergency matters may be added to an agenda with a specific motion following a discussion of the unforeseen, urgent, and emergency nature of the topic.