Season pass holders to the Warrenton city pool will be receiving refunds for the period of time it was closed last month.
The pool was closed for 15 days between July 5-19 after officials instituted mandatory water conservation measures due to declining levels in the city’s water table.
Since the pool was scheduled to be open 101 days this summer and it was closed for 14.9 percent of that time, the refund amount was determined by subtracting that percentage from a season pass fee according to city officials.
The city issued 93 season passes totaling $9,515. The overall amount the city will refund to season pass holders is $1,413.
The breakdown for the refunds is as follows: resident family, $14.85; resident individual, $10.40; resident senior, $6.68; non-resident family, $17.82; non-resident individual, $13.37; and non-resident senior, $9.65.
City officials also reported seven water aerobics, five swim lessons and four pool parties had been refunded as of July 26. All of the other lessons and parties were rescheduled.
City officials are continuing to ask residents and businesses to reduce water consumption on a voluntary basis due to the ongoing drought. The pool slides and spray ground area will continue to be closed as part of the city’s efforts to reduce water usage.
Aldermen voted to approve the refunds by 3-1 vote at Tuesday night’s board meeting. Ward 1 Alderman John Cornell was the lone dissenting vote. Aldermen Phil Tallo and Beth Kendall were absent.
Cornell suggested the city consider issuing refunds for the remainder of the summer pool season and have the passes turned in immediately. He said $3 daily passes could then be purchased by families or individuals who still are interested in visiting the pool.
Had the board followed that recommendation, the refund amount would have totaled $5,747.
“The product we are offering the customer is different,” Cornell remarked. “I’m not saying that is the fault of the city’s. It might make a difference. It comes down to we have an opportunity to send a message to the customer that they are the ones that can quantify that.”
However, the other board members preferred offering one refund option.
“I understand what Alderman Cornell is saying,” Clark said. “I don’t necessarily disagree with him, but as a season pass holder you are subject to days where it rains where the pool is closed and they have not been compensated before. I think the days we were closed and compensating them for that would be sufficient.”
