Cuba Parks and Recreation Board on May 12 discussed recommending changes to the rates at the city pool.

During the April 20 meeting, the board began discussing these changes, and while no recommendations were made, members Beth Kight, Chris Kight and Roslind Reiner were assigned to create alternative price sheets.

Beth Kight led the discussion, where she recommended that daily admission prices be increased from a $5 to a $6 entry fee.

When it came to pricing the season passes, Kight said the small group looked at the surrounding area pool prices, including Owensville, Sullivan and St. James.

“We kind of stuck a little bit closer with St. James on stuff,” Kight said.

Estimating the pool to be open at least 80 days, they want to increase the individual pool passes from $55 to $65, saving about $415 if pass holders used their pass every day.

A family of two would see a $30 increase from last year’s $80 prices. Instead of $130 for a family of 3-6, the prices for a family of four would increase to $180 in total. For a group of five, it would be $200, with up to three additional passes at $15 a piece. Senior passes were recommended to increase by $5 for $45 a piece.

Swim lessons were only recommended to have a slight increase, with individuals going up by $10 to $70, and a family of two also going up by $10 to $110, with $15 for additional participants.

Beth Kight said that the pool passes wouldn’t apply to pool events held outside of normal hours.

“The pool passes would only be good for the general admission. So if they wanted to come back and do like an evening swim, they would have to pay, like, it would be like $2 or $3,” Kight said.

Increasing prices is supposed to lessen the deficit the pool incurs every year, but Roslind Reiner, board member, said she didn’t want the prices to change.

“I’m personally in favor of keeping the prices the same,” Reiner said. “I feel like we live in a low-income area. I feel like the pool is for kids. I want to make sure that it is attainable for kids.”

Instead, she suggested possibly selling the naming rights to the pool because some of the other surrounding pools have names from those who donated a lot of money to the pool.

Beth Kight suggested that they look into that next year.

A recommendation to change the pool rates was passed with a 6-1 vote, with Reiner against. The recommendation will be taken to the Cuba Board of Aldermen during their May 19 meeting.

The board discussed adding items to the concession stand to make it more favorable to customers.

Karina Rice, board member,  mentioned that she asked kids who frequent the pool for their opinion on what should be added to the concession stands.

Since outside food or drink isn’t allowed, getting an air fryer was suggested so more options, like chicken nuggets, could be added.

Having something that is easily stored with a short turnaround, like Uncrustables, as well as flavor packets for water, was also suggested.

Any additions would be based on the prices of the items because the city is looking to be more cost-effective.

Crawford County Fair Board member Aimee Halbert gave a report on the fairgrounds.

Halbert said work on the addition of a concrete walkway at Hood Park, which the aldermen officially accepted on March 17, would begin soon and be completed before the July 14 fair.

Halbert also announced that the swine barn is requesting reimbursement for paint for the swine barn. The paint was $3,211.14 in total.

“Since it’s for maintenance on the swine barn. Either the full amount or half the amount,” Halbert said.

She asked for the electricity to be checked in the exhibit hall because they currently run two coolers, they are looking for a third, but they cannot run the microwave because it trips the breaker.

No actions were taken.

Terry Miles, with Crazed & Caged Promotions, LLC, gave a report on the May 9 demolition derby at Hood Park.

“We took in 1,220 armbands through general admission. That’s how many people come out and watch,” Miles said.

Miles said that they have football kids who pick up trash and switch trash cans out at the derby. Then they come back to finish picking up trash on Sunday. The 4-H club helped by taking money at the gate, and the fire department brought trucks just in case. In turn, the derby donates to each organization. They also pay the ambulance district whatever they want for being there.

There were some complaints about the derby not being Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant near the food trucks because there were places that wheelchairs couldn’t get through.

Putting gravel down for the food trucks to be on was suggested so they don’t sink into the mud, but Grounds Maintenance Supervisor Jerry Montgomery said he would rather deal with ruts in the mud than the gravel.

In other business, with the term expiring for Karen Groom, former board president, Faye Howard, former vice president and Stacy Romo, former board secretary, new members were voted for the positions.

Chris Kight was voted as president, Beth Kight as vice president and Ashley Wells as secretary with a 7-0 vote.

The next meeting will be on at 6:30 p.m. on June 9 at the Cuba pool.