Is City Pool being supported by the City of Vicksburg? It does not appear so.

Last year, the city very unwillingly raised lifeguard salaries to minimum wage. Anyone already making minimum wage or above received no increase. This means that any new lifeguards willing to pay the $125 for a Water Instructor Class and work at minimum wage (watching and teaching your children) will be making the same as experienced lifeguards who have been there two and three years.

Can we expect the experienced lifeguards to stay — or will they go to work at other pools in order to be paid a reasonable (and noticeably higher) salary? Will there be enough of them willing to return so that the pool is able to safely remain open plus full swim lessons be taught?

I volunteered as a Red Cross Level 1 swim instructor for 14 years and have been taking groups of children to City Pool for swim lessons for 22 years. It has always been a wonderful and positive experience for the children, whether they were there for lessons or for the afternoon family swim time.

My goal has always been two-fold: the enjoyment of the children, plus their learning water safety and swimming skills. Several of the children who have graduated from my day care over the years are currently certified lifeguards. They got their start in water safety and swimming at our City Pool. I hate to see this decade’s children not learn the joy and benefits of swimming that have been provided by City Pool over the decades.

I do understand that the pool is a community service and not meant to be a big moneymaker for the city, but if the city is unable to hire an adequate number of certified lifeguards to safely keep the pool open and teach the swim classes, what will your children be doing this summer? I cannot see where the other pools in the county will be able to serve the large number of children and families left “pool-less.” The pool is a wonderful community service and resource, and should be used to its full potential. Has the City of Vicksburg thought this through?

Bunny Reihsmann

Vicksburg