Aquatic Center changes underway

COLUMBUS - With talks of privatizing management of the Aquatic Center squelched, staff members are ready to make the necessary improvements and changes needed to make it the place to be in Columbus.

Some of the changes have already been made while others are being put into motion, said Chuck Thomerson, Public Works and Environmental Services director.

The biggest change will be the hiring of a full-time manager. Advertising for the position has begun and Thomerson hopes to have a person hired by early April.

Brook Tomka has been serving as interim manager since the resignation of Pam Stephens in February. Stephens served as director of both the Aquatic Center and Senior Center. Following her resignation, city staff decided to hire a full-time person for each position.

"Having a full-time manager will give us the opportunity to concentrate on the facility and programs," Thomerson said. "That was hard when we had a part-time director."

Membership is one area staff has already begun to concentrate on. Thomerson said a membership drive is now underway, and he said the center's staff will soon be visiting businesses and other groups in the area to promote it. The drive's main focus will be on families by offering a $99 membership. Family memberships previously cost $130.

"We want to give families an incentive to come here," he said. "Sometimes, we have parents come in and get a membership for just their child, which now is $60. Now, for $39 more, they can get one for the entire family."

The family membership is now available. The term of the membership will end Sept. 30, 2006, which could be another incentive for those who act early. Normally, a membership is honored from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, but Thomerson said those who purchase them now will receive the benefit of a few extra months.

Current members also will be offered the $99 fee.

"Those members will be receiving a letter from us offering the membership," Thomerson said.

"The letter is a personal touch we wanted to give our current members."

The Aquatic Center does offer bank drafts for membership payments. Those choosing that option can have the payment spread out over a 12-month period and have it taken directly from their bank account. There is a $15 one-time fee to sign up for bank drafts.

Thomerson said the benefits of offering discounted family memberships are not only to increase revenue and membership, but also offer a place where families can go together.

Thomerson said plans also are being made to offer a group rate to area businesses who get employees to sign up for memberships. In addition to the $99 family membership, discounts on adult memberships may be offered.

"All businesses in Columbus will be offered a group membership rate based on the number of employees who sign up," Thomerson said.

New and current users of the Aquatic Center will also notice changes when they walk in the door. The lobby has an air hockey and foosball table they can play when they aren't swimming. The snack and drink machines are back, too.

The center also has swim toys for rent, including the popular "noodles."

Pool hours also have been extended in the morning to accommodate lap swimmers. The center is now open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lap swimming and programming. It will then reopen at 4 p.m. for open swim and close at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 1 to 6 p.m. The center was previously closed on Sunday.

Other changes at the center include having certified Red Cross private and group swim lessons and more offerings for birthday parties, which includes free toy rentals, access to the pool during the entire open swim time, as opposed to just the time of the party, and more involvement from the center's staff.

The center's staff is looking to expand the Summer Day Camp program that started last year, as well.

"Pam (Stephens) laid some good groundwork," Thomerson said, pointing out that the camp had a waiting list each week. "Last year, it was a good program and very successful. This year, it will be even better."

The day camps are especially important this year because, as with last year, the city will be without an outdoor swimming facility. The program includes a different theme each week, Thomerson said. Those interested in participating will have to sign up for each week separately, which Thomerson said gives more children the opportunity to participate.

The camps include more than just activities at the center.

"There are field trips to area parks, businesses and education lessons; we have a lot of variety planned," Thomerson said. "With a full-time manager, we will also be able to take in more kids."

Other goals of the center's staff include hosting event nights for schools, group activities and theme nights for various ages. In addition, the staff is working with the Columbus YMCA and hopes to host events for its swim and diving teams. 

"We also hope there will be more need of our facility for the YMCA as they may see fit," Thomerson said.

In the last few months, training and additional certification opportunities were given to staff members. The center has about 18 staff members. Those positions include full, part time and seasonal.

Thomerson said he knows the staff will meet the City Council's goals of increasing usage and improving programs. 

"I would like to think we would see some change in this year's fiscal budget, but with a new manager and proactive philosophy, the real impact should be noticeable in the next fiscal year," Thomerson said.  

He said he's already witnessed one instance in the morning water exercise class, which he said attracted 32 people on Thursday. Before that, he said there were about 15 on any given day.

"I'm very confident we will turn things around," he said.