Politics & Government

County Staff will Float Pool Proposal Before Commission Today

Pasco County staff is looking for direction from the elected body.

The from closing is expected to get an initial, nonbinding, thumbs up or down from the Pasco County Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 23.

“There’s a draft of the agreement with the Lightning — it’s not the final agreement,” said Rick Buckman, the parks department director. “I think what we (the county) want (is) to get the board to decide whether they want to fund these issues or not — give direction on whether to do the agreement or not.”

The Land O’ Lakes Lightning Swim Team has been working with parks department officials to draft a proposal to take over some of the management and financial burdens of operating the Land O’ Lakes pool. The nonprofit swim team stepped forward earlier this summer when it was announced the county due to budget cuts.

Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While the draft agreement still needs some work, Brett Ewald, president of the Lightning, said it’s a good start.

“I’m pretty optimistic,” Ewald said.

Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The current draft agreement is missing some pieces that concern Ewald, but he said he believes they can be worked out if the commission agrees to move forward.

“The contract has us virtually paying all the expenses, but doesn’t guarantee they won’t go sign 10 contracts with 10 other swim teams,” Ewald said. “If we’re going to be paying all the expenses, we can’t have other teams in the pool.”

Ewald thinks the lack of exclusivity for the Lightning to field the only nonprofit team at the pool is likely an oversight and something that can be fixed with relative ease. Ewald’s concerns do not involve the high school teams that practice at the pool — only other nonprofits.

Under the current proposal, the Lightning would ease the county’s financial burden for operating the Land O’ Lakes pool by about $100,000 a year. The county would still have to pay about $41,000 a year, but would make back about $10,000 a year in user fees.

“It’s a true partnership,” Buckman said in an earlier interview.

The plan to save the Land O’ Lakes pool has been in the works for more than three months. When the parks department recommended closing the county’s pools in Land O’ Lakes and Hudson to cover part of its $470,000 budget shortfall, the Lightning stepped forward to save the Land O’ Lakes facility.

The nonprofit Lightning has about 140 members ranging in age from about 5 up to 18. Its officials want to preserve the pool not only for that team, but also the and high school teams and public swimmers.

Under the plan, public swim times would continue in the summer months as they do now. The only real difference is the public swims would only be open seven hours a day instead of nine during the Memorial Day to Labor Day period. The pool would remain open year round for Lightning swimmers and members of the high school teams.

The plan calls for the county to pay for and manage the public swim. The Lightning would be responsible for operational and maintenance costs of the pool, including water quality control and capital repairs up to $2,500. The county would have to kick in for more costly repairs.

The Lightning would also pay for two certified pool operators and would be responsible for all swimming lessons.

The commission meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizens Dr., in New Port Richey.

The commission is also expected to give its direction on what to do with Hudson pool tomorrow, as well. The two issues have been separated, Buckman said, which means one pool could stay open even if the other closes.

If the commission agrees to move forward on keeping the Land O' Lakes pool open, Ewald anticipates a final agreement might be presented as early as Sept. 6.

No group has stepped forward to try and save the Hudson pool, but Ewald said the Lightning would be willing to try and field a swimming team at the location.

“Maybe they can build up a team,” he said, adding that the county would need to fund that pool for at least another year to make it work. “If you can get an 80- to 100-kid team, (it would) defray costs. It’s going to take people over there (to make it work). It’s going to take some coaches, parents, community leaders.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Land O' Lakes