Outdoor Pool Fees Reduced
Under current business, at the May 2021 Board Meeting, Chris Jones moved to approve the addition of the outdoor pool annual and daily fees to the 2021 fee schedule. The outdoor pool fees proposed and approved are as follows:
- Annual member – $100
- Annual household – $150
- Annual super senior – $75
- Daily member – $2
- Daily nonmember or guest – $4
- Daily employee – $2
Jones Recognized Efforts of Quinton and Heffer
Director Jones gave recognition to Mark Quinton, Recreation Committee Member, for giving him “some historical context on how the numbers were arrived at.” Jones also thanked Stephanie Heffer, Director of Projects and Operations, for providing adjusted pool forecast numbers.
Director Tucker Omohundro seconded the motion.
Heffer Explains Reason for Reduction
Director Omohundro asked if the fees being reduced had to do with the lack of pool usage.
Stephanie Heffer said, “when we presented the fee schedule last year to the Board, it was kind of an overwhelming request from the Board that we go back and take a look at the pool fees. We did have fairly low participation, although it was difficult to guage that because of COVID.” Surrounding area pools were looked at, including Magic Springs, etc. It was determined that last year’s fees were out of line and prohibited participation.
This will be the first full year of new pool usage. Pre-2014 (at the old pool) showed an average of 9,000 to 12,000 visits per year.
Heffer continued, “our budget forecasts for these numbers [new fees] is based on [participation numbers] of 2,500. It is very, very conservative.”
When the budget for 2021 was being developed, staff thought there may still be potential COVID-19 restrictions for the 2021 season. COVID-19 restrictions are not being anticipated at this time.
Heffer said adjustments in 2022 may need to be made, depending on 2021 participation and circumstances.
Pool Fee Motion Approved
Corry stated they voted to approve this motion.
6_Board_Memo_Outdoor_Pool_Fees_5-19-2021Report by Cheryl Dowden, May 21, 2021
* * *
Thank you for reading. If you like, please comment below. We love to hear your opinion, but comments must be made using your first and last real name, or they will not be accepted. If you would like to submit an article for publication, please contact us through this website. Be sure to bookmark this website. Click here to visit the Hot Springs Village People Facebook Group, also known as POG (Property Owners’ Group).
Steven Mason
05/22/2021 — 7:13 am
Something is amiss with the pool fee motion attachment in this article.
HSVP C
05/22/2021 — 9:30 am
Steven, thank you! I appreciate the help. It should be fine now. 🙂
Renee Budden
05/22/2021 — 8:38 am
Thank you for addressing this and making the outdoor pool fees more reasonable.
Robert Busse
05/22/2021 — 11:43 am
You all are beginning to see what a joke the proposed numbers for justification of this pool amenity was when presented to the Erickson/Nalley Board. They were bare bones, inaccurate, and rather easy to see that the fees and staffing projected were unrealistic. There were other expenses/costs not included in the proposal to that Board. I say, without definite facts other than memory, that our $1 million plus pool, that was overwhelmingly approved by that Board, cost much more than projected to construct and will cost more to staff/run and maintain than touted and approved by the Nalley administration and the Board.
What I am saying is that these high dollar, major project proposals need to be scrutinized much more closely and the administration held to the approved cost, staffing, and running of these things. In the past it was obvious that the game played was to put together a package that fit within a budget number, get the project approved by the friendly Boards and once approved, money being spent or to be spent was not important because no one really monitored or cared. The subsidy just would become much greater than anticipated. No one was put to the fire about the overages. I can not think of one of these projects that have come in at or below anticipated costs. There is always extra money needed to complete and/or run them.