The Flandreau City Council put on hold a request to raise aquatic center fees until council members have more information about why the money is needed and how it would be used.
At the March 5 meeting, City Administrator Don Whitman proposed raising the season pass fees and getting other fee options that he didn’t know were being used on the schedule for approval. The options include the cost for an upgrade for a tribal individual pass to a family pass and the addition of a punch card for $20.
Under the proposal, a single resident admission would increase from $65 to $70 for the season, while a family resident pass would bump from $108 to $117. A non-resident pass would increase from $74 to $80, and the non-resident family season admission would move from $123 to $133.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe pays for an individual youth pass, but if the family wanted to pay to upgrade, they would be charged $43 if they are local and $49 if they are not, under the proposal.
Aquanastics fees would increase from $82.50 to $89, and lap swim would go up from $41.25 to $45.
Alderman Bart Sample asked why the tribal upgrade fees would still make the season passes less than what others would pay for the same passes. He also asked why the increase in fees is needed.
“I can’t say for sure,” Whitman said. He also said he would look into the request and bring information back to the council.
Fees were last increased in December 2016 for the 2017 summer season. At the same time, the city increased lifeguard pay to $9 an hour in order to attract candidates for the job, and gave returning lifeguards a bump up from those being hired for the first time, Whitman said.
Council President Dan Sutton said the council will need to consider whether higher fees are worth it.
“We want it be affordable. We want people to use it,” he said.
Financially strong
From the beginning of 2017 to the end, the city improved its net position from $11.5 million to $12.35 million. That number includes general government activity plus enterprise accounts such as water, sewer and electric.
It shows that Flandreau went from good to better because of realistic budget planning, increased sales tax collections, grants and other factors. The report is not an audit, which is not done annually, and is not simply cash on hand.
“We continue to be in a good financial position, and we got better during 2017,” Whitman said.
Whitman said he is not sure how long the three women will take care of the extra work.
“I don’t know how this is all going to play out,” he said.
