City hires could mean more summer pool hours

The Montgomery Advertiser (Alabama)

BYLINE: By, Marty Roney

3/1/2012

The City of Prattville is hiring about three dozen temporary seasonal workers for its leisure services department, an indication that the city’s financial condition is improving.

The city council approved during its Tuesday night meeting the hiring of 34 employees, for a total cost not to exceed $84,777. The teenagers and young adults will help with the summer recreation programs administered by the department of leisure services. Several will work as lifeguards at the city pool.

The pool was open for public use only on Saturdays last season, in an effort to get a handle on budget constraints. Plans are in the works to have more public pool days this summer, said District 7 Councilman Nathan Fank, who chairs the council’s leisure services committee.

“We want to add more days, especially during the week,” Fank said. “We’ll just have to see what works out.”

Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. said the budget has some wiggle room, but finances are still tight.

“We have made good progress in getting the city back on solid financial ground,” he said. “But we still have to be careful when it comes to spending.”

Last summer the city accepted donations to cover the costs of opening the pool on one day each week for public use.

Patsy Little, of Prattville, wouldn’t mind kicking in a little cash this year, if it’s needed.

“We use the pool,” said the mother of two. “It’s a good resource for people who don’t have access to a pool. It’s a great activity for kids in the summer.”

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newspaper

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