Last summer was the first year for the Hennessey’s $2.1 million pool to open and it will open Memorial Day weekend (May 29-30-31) this year, Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman told board members at their meeting last Thursday.

“Have we had any breaks due to the ice?” asked Trustee Keith Meek.

“We won’t know until Tillman answered.

New Pool Rates

Season passes for individuals were raised from $50 to $75 and from $120 to $150 for up to four members “in the household.”

The board added a $25 cost for each additional person for both the individual and family rates.

Daily rates will be:

— Ages 0-2, $2 (same as last year);

— 3-17, $3 ($2 last year);

— 18-64, $4 ($3 last year),

— 65-plus, $2 (same as last year).

Party costs stay the same: $150 (under 50 people) and $200 (over 50 people).

Tillman said she wanted to keep the rate for seniors because “they usually come and watch their grandchildren instead of parents just dropping kids off.”

“That’s awful cheap entertainment,” said Trustee Richard Simunek, who also asked how many lifeguards are on duty for the parties.

Tillman said requirements are for two, but they upped it to three last year for the under 50 people rate.

Simunek asked what the income and expenses were for a “typical month” last summer.

Tillman said she didn’t have that figure, but the income was about $10,000 every month “and that’s more than we usually had for a whole season.”

Simunek said some places charge extra for clean-up, asked if there were people from out of town who came and suggested they might charge extra for out-of-towners.

Gritz said another reason for the new pool was to attract people to come to Hennessey, maybe buy some gas, or stop at a restauor drive-thru.

“We don’t want to charge people who might live in the school district, or in the country, but don’t live inside the town limits,” Gritz said.

“They pay (sales) taxes here.”

Tillman said a party was booked every night they were available last summer; they had a football team from Vinita who booked a party one night.

She said this year they will book two night parties on the weekends, one from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and another from 9-11 p.m.

She said that wouldn’t interfere with the regular Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday night swims.

Later in meeting, board hired Jessi Schovanec as pool manager again this year.

Members also hired Juliana Macy and Stephanie Patocka as assistant manager.

All members were present for the meeting: Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Trustees Wes Hardin, Simunek and Meek, and Mayor Gritz.

In the audience was Harold Shaw who goes on the board after April 15.