Chances are improving that East Side Beach in Oconto Falls will be staffed by lifeguards this summer after all.
Because of a chronic lack of candidates and other budget issues, the city passed a 2024 budget based on setting a swim-at-your-own-risk policy at the beach without lifeguards or a swimming raft, but the city council reopened the possibility of hiring lifeguards after a public outcry.
During the March 12 meetings of the council and its park and recreation committee, Deputy Clerk Jenny Friedman reported that the city had received one application for the position of lifeguard supervisor and seven applications for lifeguard.
Two of the applications are from candidates who still need to earn their lifeguard certification, and another only wants to work part-time as a fill-in, Friedman said. The city reimburses lifeguard for the cost of their certification training, and the S&S Hometown Bar and Restaurant offers scholarships to candidates for the upfront costs.
Ideally the city would hope to have a roster of 10-12 lifeguards, City Administrator Peter Wills said. Last summer it seemed there were a dozen people available, but by the time the season started it was down to nine.
“Six really worked a regular schedule,” Wills said.
Friedman said information about the lifeguard openings is posted all over town at stores, schools and online.
Alderperson Ashley Bahrke asked about the ideal number, recalling that at a park and recreation committee meeting in January, it was stated that the city needed a minimum of eight lifeguards. Committee Chairman Mat McDermid said 10 is a more realistic number to work with.
Meanwhile, the city is also exploring the idea of seeking a recreational grant from Oconto County and solicited ideas from the general public about what is could be used for. The county invited municipalities to apply for grants using part of Oconto County’s remaining allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
Wills told the Park and Rec Committee that the grants are on a 3:1 matching basis. For example, the city could apply for a $50,000 grant but would need to contribute $150,000 of its own funds for a $200,000 project.
The top things were playground equipment at Memorial Field and West Side Beach and softball improvements at Memorial Field, Wills said.
Several people involved with the Memorial Day weekend softball tournament and local youth baseball and softball programs asked the city to prioritize the softball field fence at Memorial Park.
“That fence at Memorial Field is getting really, really bad,” said Josh Long from the youth programs. “A lot of people got hurt on it last couple of years. With the youth program growing and growing, a lot more kids are going to use that field, and it’s getting to be a liability.”
The fence is curled up underneath and needs to be replaced, Long said. One player who was injured last summer told the committee he caught his leg under the fence and needed 17 stitches.
About 200 kids are expected to take part in youth baseball programs this summer, Long said.
McDermid said with the new fire station being built on the south end of Memorial Park, it’s a good time to re-envision what the city wants to do with the park.
“It’d be good if we all sat down this summer and put some ideas down on where we want to go with everything there,” McDermid said.
Christine Grzelak, a citizen member of the committee, said given the amount of community interest, it makes sense to consider improvements at Memorial Park.
“It makes sense to me that while we’re working on the fences to focus on some of the other things that are desperately needed at Memorial Park,” Grzelak said. “We have a good opportunity to make that even better and maybe in the future have the potential to host youth tournaments or softball tournaments, bringing more people to our community.”
Wills said he also brought in contractors to address lack of ADA compliant restrooms at city parks. He plans to gather quotes on restrooms, playground equipment, and other issues and make some recommendations to the city council in April.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
Council gets update on lifeguard search
