By Stephen Smoot
For the first weekend in June, the Town of Franklin was forced to keep the park swimming pool closed due to an all too common problem for many in recent years – lack of staffing.
Town officials, however, have taken steps to try to prevent that from happening again.
Last weekend, the Town of Franklin/Franklin Pool and Park Facebook page alerted patrons of the city’s swimming pool that “due to a lack of guard coverage, the Town pool will unfortunately not be open this weekend.” A subsequent post read “It is a safety concern that I do agree with, however, it is a sad day for me.”
On Monday morning, the Franklin Board of Parks met and worked on solutions to the problem. Previously, town officials had worked to recruit high school students to apply for jobs at the pool.
“Lifeguards are just teenagers. For many of them, it’s their first job,” explained Frank Wehrle, Town of Franklin administrator. He stated that the cost of earning certification as a lifeguard could reach “$200 to $300 in many areas.”
“That’s a tough barrier of entry for most people,” he added.
With the cost of certification an issue for many wishing to work at the pool, sponsors pooled funds to pay for an instructor. Laura Nulph, Jay Nesselrodt, Emily Hartman from Tiny Tots Day Care, and Margie Derby from Renewed Vision Fellowship donated funds to pay for an instructor. The Town of Franklin publicly thanked the sponsors for paying for the instructor
“It’s a challenge for the board of parks” to pay for those who want to take on the job but lack money to pay for certification.
“We need at least three before he will commit,” said Wehrle. As of Monday afternoon, he said that three or four had indicated interest in taking the class scheduled for June 11, 15, and 16.
In most cases, recruitment for such positions takes place in spring. “You almost have to be thinking about it months in advance,” Wehrle shared. Efforts by the town to recruit had run up against the cost of certification.
The pool only closed for the weekend due to the staffing issue. On Monday, the pool welcomed patrons as usual.
Wehrle stated that “we plan to stay open as much as we are able to.”
The pool has scheduled free days for June 14 and 15 with dads able to come free on Father’s Day, June 16. The pool will host another free day for West Virginia Day on June 20.
