The Cape charter effect: Park fees likely going up

Thanks to a recently ap-proved charter amendment, the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department said it will increase user fees to rates more consistent with expenses.

Park goers may first notice the increases at the Capaha and Central Municipal pools.

Pending city council approval, admission fees at the two pools will rise from $2.25 to $2.75 for adults, $1.60 to $2.00 for children and $1.85 to $2.25 for senior citizens. The fee changes will not take effect when the pool opens on Memorial Day but will likely be implemented on July 1 after the budget is approved.

Season passes will also increase at proportional rates.

Prior to the amendment, the parks department was only permitted to increase user fees by a maximum of 5 percent in any given year without voter approval. With almost 80 percent approval, voters on April 4 chose to give city officials the authority to set fees however they deem fit.

"The pool in any community is not a money maker and it's not intended to be a business. Pools are considered amenities; a quality of life issue," said parks and recreation director Dan Muser. "These increases are primarily meant to address part-time payroll issues."

Lifeguards have historically been paid minimum wage rates at Cape Girardeau pools. That means the parks department regularly loses qualified guards to pools in Jackson and to local fitness centers.

"The last few years it's been more and more difficult to get enough guards to fill our needs," said Muser. "If they know they can get more money as a guard somewhere else then they'll leave. We've always been able to fill our positions, but last summer it was very very difficult. We knew we had to do something to be more competitive."

Muser added that a recently ordered water pump costing $15,000 was needed after the previous pump at Capaha Pool broke down in July of last year. Officials shut down the pool for the remainder of the season after the malfunction.

Muser said user fees account for only about 50 percent of the operating costs of pools at Capaha and Central.

Green fees at the golf course will increase from $10.40 to $11.00 on weekdays and from $12.70 to $13.00 on weekends.

Admission to the annual haunted house at the arena building will increase from $3.00 to $5.00 for adults and $2.00 to $3.00 for children.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245