Tamaqua pool sets dates for opening

Although the weather outside is still frightful, Tamaqua council set its summer plans in full swing at Tuesday night’s meeting. The Bungalow pool is slated to open the weekend of June 2-3. The pool will then close for June 4-5, and will reopen for the season on June 6. The two-day break is to allow staff members to finish out the extended school year.

When the pool does open in June, it will feature newly renovated bath houses for both men and women. Council awarded the bid for the rehabilitation of the buildings to Spotts Brothers in the amount of $47,925. The project was rebid as council hoped to be able to get more bang for their buck, and borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said that rebidding the project had brought the price down about $2,000. The project is being funded with CDBG funds.

Council also approved a resolution accepting a $60,000 grant from the John E. Morgan Foundation to cover the pool operating expenses for the 2018 season. Council President David Mace said that this annual gift has been given for many years and is greatly appreciated by the community.

Upon the recommendation of pool manager Adrian Bumbulsky, council hired Nathan Steigerwalt as the assistant pool manager. Casey Akins, Emily Andrews, Caroline Balogach, Tyler Calkins, Emma Coccio, Brianna Dumond, Kailyn Erbe, Chelsea Frantz, Ashley Jones, Kirstin Jones, Carly Kosciolek, Garbielle Markiewicz, Victoria Markiewicz, Chris Miller, Jacob Rudy, Kaitlyn Shlanta, Olivia Stanek, Kaitlyn Stauffenberg, Sophia Susarchick, Megan Toth, Ethan Turrano and Hannah Wollweber were hired as lifeguards for the 2018 season.

In other recreation and youth matters, council heard from Jennifer Schaeffer, from On The Grind Association, the group that has taken over operations on the Willing Street Skate Park. She related that the organization’s first event, an Easter egg hunt, was very well-attended.

Council approved a request from the organization to hold a carnival style event in the park area over Father’s Day weekend in June. Due to the cancellation of the annual SummerFest event, Schaeffer said that the event will hopefully “fill the hole” and create awareness about the improvements coming to the park.

Schaeffer shared a packet of information with council including plans for upcoming fundraisers, a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish foundation, and ideas for improvements to the park. The matters were referred to the recreation and youth committee for further discussion.

Council also discussed getting larger-sized garbage containers for the skate park and the South Ward playground area for the summer months.