HUMBOLDT — USA Pools will manage Humboldt’s swimming pool again this year.
City council members agreed, in a split vote, to USA Pools’ proposal to increase its charge by 3 percent to $47,120. For that the company provides a turn-key operation, including all chemicals. The company noted it anticipated a 12 percent cost increase for pool supplies.
Mark Slater and Cindy Hollingsworth, without comment, voted against USA Pools managing the pool for a second straight year.
Otis Crawford, a member of the council’s Pool Committee, said he had had “lots of good feedback” about the company’s management during 2013. Sunny Shreeve, the other committee member, said she thought the pool had a good summer last year and that questions she had about lifeguard compensation had been answered. Shreeve said it was her understanding a bonus would be paid lifeguards this year who completed their 2013 duties.
Council members took no official position, but none seemed interested in seeing city elections move to fall, which has been proposed in both House and Senate this session.
Tucker said the League of Kansas Municipalities was opposed, and that city officials elsewhere he had talked with were as well.
The House would move April city and school elections to November in odd-numbered years while the Senate bill would have them in conjunction with state and federal elections in even-numbered years. The Senate proposal also would make positions partisan, meaning candidates would name party affiliation when they filed.
A concern, Tucker said, was that if the Senate bill won approval, vacancies on the council would be filled by party caucus instead of mayoral appointments, as they are in Humboldt.
“I think it’s a particularly bad idea in small communities like ours,” said Councilwoman Vada Aikins, adding that “I thought this was dead,” after it went nowhere in the Legislature during 2013.
Having all elections in August (primary) and November has been touted as a way to save money.
Allen County Clerk Sherrie Riebel has described it as a “nightmare,” with her fear being school and city candidates would be lost on longer ballots including state and federal candidates.
IN OTHER BUSINESS:
— Council members recognized police officers Jeff Collins, Wayne Carson, Chad Reeves, Adrian Tubbs and Chief Brian Dillow for having completed training to be certified as emergency medical technicians. Officer Steve Michaelson also is an EMT and Denton Christian completed the course on his own volition.
Officers, with one or two always on duty, often are first on a scene of a medical emergency and being EMTs will permit them to have a more comprehensive role, Dillow said.
— The city square bandstand being placed on the National Register of Historic Places will be recognized with dedication ceremonies and a concert by Humboldt High School’s band on April 12. The event will start in late afternoon with the concert at 4 o’clock.
— Income tax preparation through Thrive Allen County will occur once more in Humboldt, the evening of March 26 in City Hall. Tucker said taxpayers with less than $55,000 income qualified for free preparation of returns.
