City to Outsource Progress Park Pool Management, Lifeguards

In response to a directive from the Wentzville Board of Aldermen, the Parks Department has outsourced management of the Progress Park Pool.

The agreement means that the city will no longer hire lifeguards or pool staff, but that those positions will be filled and supervised by the winning bidder, Midwest Pool Management.

Among the other services that will be provided by the management company are:

• Pre-opening operations
• Pools operation management
• Pool closing and winterizing
• Equipment management
• Locker room supplies, including pool chemicals, first aid supplies and janitorial supplies.

Director of Parks Mary Jo Dessieux told the board that her staff will still be responsible for oversight of the contract and management of programs. The concession stand will also be run in-house, although staff will look at also outsourcing concessions in 2014.

Interim Finance Director Petree Powell said that one of the ways that the city will save money is in the use of staff time and resources. The human resources department will not have to work on recruiting and hiring those seasonal positions, for instance, and city staff will not have to deal with their paychecks.

Ward 3 Alderman Rick Stokes said that approving the contract was "a great first step" and that he applauded the parks department's efforts in outsourcing the pool management services.

The board has recently turned to outsourcing city services as a way to save money. The city has already outsourced its IT services and is also looking to outsource much of the city's grass cutting services.