By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Hays Recreation Commission's routine annual report to city commissioners on Dec. 5 turned into a 30-minute discussion about the long-term future of the two municipal swimming pools and the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
Roger Bixenman, recreation superintendent, and Jeff Boyle, Hays parks director, presented the 2024 operations and financial review to the city commission at its work session. Recreation commission board members were present in the audience.
The city and the recreation commission will split the operating loss of $50,895 for the Hays Aquatic Park and Wilson Pool. Under a long-standing agreement, the city will reimburse the recreation commission half of the loss, or $25,447.
The year-to-date pool expenses for the city, including the requested reimbursement, are $178,054.
Boyle showed a history of attendance at the aquatic park.
Although the total in 2024 was the highest since 2019, the numbers have slowly decreased since the pool opened in 2000.
The Hays Aquatic Park had the most visitors in 2001, the second year of its operation, with almost 85,000. In 2024, there were 46,000 visitors.
The decline was expected as other similar water parks opened in the region, Boyle said.
Mayor Sandy Jacobs asked Bixenman what the city could do to help turn the numbers around.
"I know it's never going to be a profit maker. ... Is there a way to minimize the loss and move forward?" Jacobs asked.
Bixenman said the city commission's decision earlier this year to increase daily admission to $5 and slightly raise season passes was helpful.
He noted the pool's footprint is landlocked, hindering expansion. There has been some talk of adding a climbing wall and a small slide in the diving well area.
"But that also increases your staff (need)," Bixenman said.
Many Hays Aquatic Park lifeguards are college students who must leave for school well before Labor Day, shortening the number of days the pool is open for the summer.
Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex made a profit of $39,883 this year, which is deposited into the recreation commission's operating budget as part of the entities' agreement. The city's year-to-date expenditures for maintaining the complex are $235,243.
Boyle estimated the turf at the sports complex would have to be replaced in about 10 years, a major expense.
2,675 recreation commission league games were played in 2024 with almost 14,000 participants.
Adult softball numbers keep going down, in keeping with a national trend, said Brandon Maska, adult sports and sports complex director.
A shortage of umpires nationally has caused local staffing problems, maxing out the number of games the facility can host.
City commissioner Shaun Musil encouraged the recreation commission employees and board members to look at the big picture.
"I think you guys do a great job, and that's why our hotels are full. But I think all of us need to be looking at what we can do next," Musil said.
"These people are staying two or three days, and shopping. That's what makes our community go."
The city's general fund primarily depends on local sales tax revenue.
Bixenman said the recreation commission conducted a strategic doing in 2022, which included adding a second recreation center as the biggest priority.
"We've got some things in place to maybe look at that," Bixenman said.
Jacobs said it's always her goal to look at least five to 10 years out and where the money will come from.
"If we're going to plan for it and we're going to participate in that, we'd like to have that information shared," she said.
Musil suggested the city commission organize a couple of work sessions with the recreation commission.
"You're out with the community. You may be hearing things we don't," Musil said. "If we put all our heads together, maybe we can come up with something.
"I don't want us to be complacent. I want us to keep growing."
A more in-depth discussion between the two entities will be scheduled soon.