MONROE - After nearly disbanding last week, the Monroe Area Swim Team (MAST) was back in good form Wednesday, in time for a meeting of the city's Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners.
Anna Nesbitt, Monroe, representing MAST, told the commissioners the organization had a "board completely filled" and was ready to sign a new lease agreement and a financial letter of intent with the city.
"It's about the kids; it's always been about the kids," Nesbitt said.
The letter of intent saddles the group and its future boards with a goal of raising $10,000 toward the cost of reconfiguring the city pool, payable over a period of five years.
"We are really excited; we've had parent volunteers step forward who are really excited to work hard to knock it out this summer. We're making sure this 57-year-old tradition continues," Nesbitt said.
The city had set aside $17,000 in its 2012 budget to position swim lanes perpendicular to their present positions, with the understanding that MAST would donate $10,000 to the project.
The decision to reconfigure the lanes came after one MAST swimmer broke a vertebra diving from the starting blocks during a practice last summer.
The water depth at the east end of the pool currently ranges from 4 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet. But the city's insurance carrier, its attorney, and Juliene Hefter, the deputy director of Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association, recommended the city follow a minimum 5-foot depth requirement for competitive diving, based on the "standard of care." The standard of care is strictly adhered to in WIAA, NCAA, and USA Swimming policies and procedures, according to a report by Marge Klinzing, recreation director.
Reconfiguring the swimming lanes at the pool is not the first choice of some parents.
"The first choice is to go 'as is,'" said Steve Moon, who said he was at the meeting as a taxpayer, not representing MAST. "I'm asking the board to reconsider that. It's needless to spend that money, and I understand the liability issue, but it seems like there are ways around that, like a waiver."
He said it would be a shame to spend taxpayers' money and not make full use of the pool's Olympic size.
Moon said the accident last summer was the first in the 57-year history of the team.
Nesbitt said in lieu of not being able to use the pool as it is, turning the lanes was the next best choice.
"We would like to swim as we are, (because) it's an Olympic-size pool, but we want to keep the program," she added.
A third option, to do in-water starts, was the last choice of the swimmers and MAST.
Commissioner Dave Gersbach explained that the board has weighed the pros and cons of the situation.
"This way, it guarantees it's not going to happen again with deep starts there. It keeps this from injuring any child (again)," he said. "We put our best foot forward, and we can guarantee no (future) permanent paralysis. That far outweighs the money put in."
The Board of Commissioners approved the lease to be sent to the city's public property committee.
The letter of intent to raise the $10,000 through cash or in-kind donations was requested by MAST, as a method of informing future board members of its good faith commitment. It does not need council approval.
The board also sent to council a recommendation to proceed with engineering designs for the pool to meet ADA requirements, for $1,200, as well as the lane changes, for $1,400.
New MAST board members are: president, Danielle Schrenk; vice-president, Deb Bennett; secretary, Sheri Schafer; treasurer, Suzie Shaw; officer-computer, Sheri Merritt; officer-meet coordinator, Jean Sinkule; officer-clothing/photos, Sheri Meighan; officer-fundraising/scholarships, Christina Symons; and officer-concession stand manager, Nesbitt.
Anna Nesbitt, Monroe, representing MAST, told the commissioners the organization had a "board completely filled" and was ready to sign a new lease agreement and a financial letter of intent with the city.
"It's about the kids; it's always been about the kids," Nesbitt said.
The letter of intent saddles the group and its future boards with a goal of raising $10,000 toward the cost of reconfiguring the city pool, payable over a period of five years.
"We are really excited; we've had parent volunteers step forward who are really excited to work hard to knock it out this summer. We're making sure this 57-year-old tradition continues," Nesbitt said.
The city had set aside $17,000 in its 2012 budget to position swim lanes perpendicular to their present positions, with the understanding that MAST would donate $10,000 to the project.
The decision to reconfigure the lanes came after one MAST swimmer broke a vertebra diving from the starting blocks during a practice last summer.
The water depth at the east end of the pool currently ranges from 4 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet. But the city's insurance carrier, its attorney, and Juliene Hefter, the deputy director of Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association, recommended the city follow a minimum 5-foot depth requirement for competitive diving, based on the "standard of care." The standard of care is strictly adhered to in WIAA, NCAA, and USA Swimming policies and procedures, according to a report by Marge Klinzing, recreation director.
Reconfiguring the swimming lanes at the pool is not the first choice of some parents.
"The first choice is to go 'as is,'" said Steve Moon, who said he was at the meeting as a taxpayer, not representing MAST. "I'm asking the board to reconsider that. It's needless to spend that money, and I understand the liability issue, but it seems like there are ways around that, like a waiver."
He said it would be a shame to spend taxpayers' money and not make full use of the pool's Olympic size.
Moon said the accident last summer was the first in the 57-year history of the team.
Nesbitt said in lieu of not being able to use the pool as it is, turning the lanes was the next best choice.
"We would like to swim as we are, (because) it's an Olympic-size pool, but we want to keep the program," she added.
A third option, to do in-water starts, was the last choice of the swimmers and MAST.
Commissioner Dave Gersbach explained that the board has weighed the pros and cons of the situation.
"This way, it guarantees it's not going to happen again with deep starts there. It keeps this from injuring any child (again)," he said. "We put our best foot forward, and we can guarantee no (future) permanent paralysis. That far outweighs the money put in."
The Board of Commissioners approved the lease to be sent to the city's public property committee.
The letter of intent to raise the $10,000 through cash or in-kind donations was requested by MAST, as a method of informing future board members of its good faith commitment. It does not need council approval.
The board also sent to council a recommendation to proceed with engineering designs for the pool to meet ADA requirements, for $1,200, as well as the lane changes, for $1,400.
New MAST board members are: president, Danielle Schrenk; vice-president, Deb Bennett; secretary, Sheri Schafer; treasurer, Suzie Shaw; officer-computer, Sheri Merritt; officer-meet coordinator, Jean Sinkule; officer-clothing/photos, Sheri Meighan; officer-fundraising/scholarships, Christina Symons; and officer-concession stand manager, Nesbitt.