The Parks and Recreation Board was concerned about the lack of pool parties and the low number of children who signed up for  swim lessons at the Cuba Municipal Pool, so they discussed on Sept. 14 better ways to advertise the pool and employment opportunities.

Board member Roslind Reiner suggested they do more advertising and make sure they are getting the word out. The only advertising she saw was a Facebook post with all the pass prices. Board member Dian Cooper said that there wasn’t a lot of interaction with that Facebook page.

They also discussed advertising regarding hiring for pool positions. Reiner suggested finding advertising options geared more towards the younger generation, since more of the pool staff regularly consists more of younger people. She recommended using social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram because many kids probably don’t read the newspaper.

Vice President Beth Kight said that they need to start the hiring process sooner.

“But that’s something we need to, you know, the three of us, like how we’re going to be listed in different ways and get proposals to go to the city council before January. That we can get the ball rolling in January, at the beginning of the year, and so we can have more of a pool (of applicants) to choose from,” Beth Kight said.

Board member Ximena Deluna agreed that going to social media like Instagram is a good idea. She also recommended hanging up flyers at local businesses. No action was taken

The Parks and Rec monthly meeting was rescheduled for Sept. 14 after they didn’t have a quorum on Sept. 8 and couldn’t take a vote. Andi Harley, of the Cuba Chamber of Commerce, was present for the Sept. 8 meeting, but wouldn’t be able to attend on the rescheduled date, so she pitched the Chamber’s Halloween at the Hood event to the present members.

It’s a free event including a haunted house, games, blow-up slides and a costume contest for the kids. The event will be held from 3-7 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Hood Park, pending approval from the aldermen.

A motion to recommend the use of Hood Park for Halloween in the Hood was approved on Sept. 14 with a 6-0 vote.

Reiner asked about updates on the ice machine the board recommended the aldermen look into buying for the Recklein Auditorium.

Currently, if someone rents out Recklein, they must bring their own ice, so the board considered purchasing an ice machine and charging renters for its use.

Ward 1 Alderman Louis Raineri mentioned that they had a discussion about the topic and agreed that there would be numerous maintenance issues if an ice machine were installed in Recklein, starting with irregular use. He said that the machine would have to be used at least once a week; otherwise, it would have to be shut down, cleaned out, sterilized, cleaned and turned back on 24 hours before an event to regenerate ice. He added that, from personal experience, they grow mold really fast.

President Chris Kight said that Public Works Supervisor Michael Montgomery has ordered no eating, drinking or smoking signs for Tangle Creek Park. He will meet with Montgomery and Mayor Pitts Lesesne to discuss where to place those signs.

In other business, the board announced that at noon on Sept. 26, there will be a pickleball court dedication, which was donated by the Chymiak Family Foundation.