Your Views: Make Non-Residents Pay More to Use Pool

Should non-residents pay more to use than residents? According to a vast majority of Hellertown Patch readers, the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!"

In a reader poll that accompanies the story approximately 90 percent have voted in favor of the suggested change to pricing.

The idea to charge non-residents more was first broached at Hellertown Borough Council's July 2 meeting, when Public Works Director Tom Henshaw described some of the challenges pool staff are facing this season.

Some of the problems--which include smoking, bringing in prohibited items in coolers, and failing to monitor children--were attributed to "out-of-towners."

On Hellertown Patch's Facebook page, readers and pool-goers were passionate and vocal in describing these problems when asked whether non-residents should pay more.

Wrote Tara Druckenmiller:

"I'm at the pool almost every day & the 'incidents' are happening 99% by non-residents...they're making our pool unpleasant (and unsafe according to the article) for those of us that live here & pay taxes here to maintain it. If this keeps up I will not be joining next year, it's just not a fun community feeling anymore like it used to be. Up the day price for non-residents or many like myself may not be back for the season pass next year."

Another regular pool user, Lisa Peteto, had this to say:

"I refuse to let 'them' take over MY pool. The pool I learned to swim in, the pool my kids learned to swim in! The Hellertown/Lower Saucon pool is a great pool. We also have some bad eggs who live here, but there are more and more issues arising from non-residents who are not respecting our pool. ... Raising the rates is a great idea! Other pools in the area do that so why shouldn't we? Why do you think they come here? It's cheaper than going to their own local pool."

And among the more than 50 comments posted was this one by Randy Yardumian:

"A portion of my taxes, along with my yearly admission fees go to the operations and administration of the pool. I think a better question is 'Why should citizens of other communities NOT be charged more to use the Hellertown Pool?'"

Do you agree with these readers? Will you attend Monday's Hellertown Borough Council meeting to tell council members how you feel? Tell us in the comments below.