Parkersburg council acts on pool manager shortage

PARKERSBURG – The Parkersburg City Council set up a structure to help temporarily fill an open manager position at the city pool as part of regular business on Tuesday, July 5, moved from the usual Monday meeting by the Fourth of July holiday.

The council discussed how to fill the manager role following Abigail Knock’s resignation and provide help to the remaining pool manager, Elena Mulder, for the remainder of the pool season.

The council voted to pay guards scheduled to be “first chair” $15 per hour for doing regular guard duties plus duties expected to be completed by the managers on a daily basis.

Tim Kolder with Public Works also informed the council of needing to complete pool capital project repairs that started in 2019/2020, with the pool deck on the east and south side of the pool yet to be fixed. The council did not object to Tim moving forward to get a quote on completing those repairs.

In other employment news, the council also voted to increase nominal fees provided for the city’s ambulance volunteers. Fees have increased to $40 per call for service, $15 per non-transport, $10 to help load and $60 per fire call.

Finally, the council recognized Hunter Maitland’s completion of Water Treatment/Distribution 2 certifications in approving a step raise to $27.15/hour.

Various projects also received the greenlight at last week’s meeting. The council approved:

- An amount not exceeding $13,063, to complete street repair patches and a sub-drainage repair patch on Brookside Drive;

- An amount not exceeding $75,175 to complete scheduled repairs to several streets in town with micro-sealing;

- Pay estimate number 10 for the Grant Street, Johnson Street watermain project.

The council tabled consideration of sanitary sewer maintenance quotes until the August meeting, as well as the change order from Hydro-Klean on the sanitary sewer lining project. The latter tabling was in recognition of ongoing discussions between the city and Hydro-Klean about work that is yet to be completed with the project.

Parkersburg Police Chief Dave Jara discussed with the council the impact of a recent bill, HF2130, that was signed into law last month.

The bill deals with all-terrain/utility task vehicle regulations, and Jara expressed support of allowing more of those vehicles in town as long as current rules and regulations are followed. The council decided to put an agenda item on next month’s meeting regarding the issue.

In other business, the council:

- Approved liquor license renewals for Maddog’s, Kwik Trip, and Matt’s Grill & Bar;

- Approved payment of an estimated $3,500 toward inflatables for the upcoming 2022 Fun Days program;

- Approved support of $1,000 for the 2022 Parkersburg Show & Shine Car Show;

- Approved the transfer of 56 hours of vacation time from FY2022 to FY2023 for Police Chief Jara;

- Approved a quote with Iowa Wall Sawing Service to concrete lift several areas of city sidewalk and the Wolf’s Landing storage building.