BUCYRUS–Any chance of opening the Aumiller Pool this year died in Thursday’s Finance Committee meeting.

City Auditor Kali Lewis told the committee that the city spent more money than it brought in—the Fire salary account does not have enough money for a full year of their service. Opening the pool will significantly strain the carryover fund. “If we reduce the overflow funds too greatly, we risk having no stopgap to get us by till the tax revenue starts rolling in,” Lewis said.

Lewis told the committee that while she understood citizens wanted the pool, the city has already had to rely on the ARPA funds to pay employees back pay. The pool does not generate enough revenue to pay for half its expenses.

Noting that her responsibility is to look out for the city’s financial interests, Lewis said the ultimate decision to open the pool is up to the council.

“What are we going to do if the safety forces levy does not pass?” Lewis asked.

Councilman Kevin Myers said he wants the pool open; “It’s a quality-of-life thing,” Myers said.

Councilman Mark Makeever pointed out other obstacles to opening the pool. The former pool director took another job because she knew the city intended not to open the pool. The lifeguards have all taken other positions as well. Hiring new lifeguards requires their certification. They could not be certified in time for a June first pool opening.

The most sobering fact is that pool chemicals have risen to a cost of $51,000.00. That increase would elevate the operational costs from the original cost of $70,000 to $106,000.

Myers told the committee: ” I want to move the money for the pool and put it in the administration’s hands. Let them attempt to get everything in line. That way, we’ve done our job and giving them the tools to try to get it done and if they can’t, so be it.”

Councilman Dan Wirebaugh believes the administration has never wanted a pool: “I’m not trying to throw stones or anything, but this could have been resolved. We talked about this during budget. We talked about how to start getting donations. That’s all in the administration’s hands. They didn’t want to do it. We can give this money to them but they don’t wanna do it that’s obvious. As long as that administration has been there it’s always been they (the pool) lose money they lose money. We are running a city not a business,” Wirebaugh said.

Kevin Myers formally motioned to transfer $106,000 from ARPA money to fund the pool.

The motion died for lack of a second to it.