The city of South Haven is hiring a project management firm to help it establish a lifeguard program at its beaches
At Monday’s regular meeting of the South Haven City Council, City Manager Kate Hosier presented the final cost estimates to get lifeguards back at the city’s beaches. Her report said the projections, based off work with the US Lifesaving Association, are that it would cost $619,000 for the first year and $383,000 for the second year. That’s with 19 lifeguards and equipment across South Beach and North Beach.
However, Hosier said her staff is spread far too thin to be able to launch what would essentially be a new department in time for Memorial Day of next year. She asked that Double Haul Solutions, a strategic planning firm, be brought in to make it all happen.
Council Member Mary Hosely said she’d prefer to work directly with the USLA. But member George Sleeper said micromanaging, beyond simply ordering the creation of a lifeguard program, isn’t a good idea.
“We have asked Kate to do this program for us,” Sleeper said. “She’s telling us what she needs, and I’m supporting her. So, I’m in favor of this approach.”
Council member Joe Reeser told Hosier it’s time for this plan to come together.
“Because the biggest concern residents have, and I see it over and over again in emails and conversations, is the feeling we keep kicking the can down the road, that it keeps getting pushed back,” Reeser said. “No reflection on you, I’m just saying it takes forever to get something started.”
Council member Wendi Onuki said she’s frustrated this issue hasn’t been resolved after much discussion. She wanted some assurance there won’t just be another series of endless discussions a year from now.
In the end, the council voted five to seven to hire DHS to implement the lifeguard program.
The question of paying for it still remains. Mayor Annie Brown has floated the idea of a millage. Reeser said they should find a way for visitors to pay for it. Either way, the goal is to have lifeguards in place by next Memorial Day.
