ARMA, Kan. — While it may still be a little chilly outside, summer is right around the corner with temperatures consistently touching the 80s starting next Tuesday. With the warmer weather comes the season for water parks, pools, and splash pads. 

Arma City Superintendent Austin Spragg and Arma City Pool Manager Piper Richardson talked to the council Monday about the pool, scheduled to open Monday, May 25, also known as “Memorial Day,” from 1 to 5 p.m. 

“Friday (May 8), we’ll start power washing it and we’ll get the showers, concession, get it all cleaned and then Monday (May 11), we’ll start filling it up and that’ll give it two weeks to hopefully get up to temperature,” said Spragg. 

Councilman Gary Pommier then asked Spragg if he and his crew repaired “the leak they found last year.” 

“It’s on the line somewhere,” said Spragg. “We can’t find it anywhere in the pool. I got into the pool after we closed it and went around to all the jets with some dye, and I couldn’t find where it was seeping in. The only other option that it could be is the drain at the very bottom and I don’t have enough lung capacity to swim down there and watch the dye get sucked in there.” 

Of course, “it’s that time of year,” according to Richardson.

“Great lifeguards I have,” she said. “We’ll close on that Thursday of the pickleball tournament for (Arma) Homecoming on (Aug.) 6. We actually go back to school that week ... We’ll go seven days a week, 1 to 5 (p.m.) every day; Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 to 7 (p.m.). Our night swims aren’t real big because of ball games and other activities going on.” 

With the opening of the pool comes the generous donations from the community, offering free swim for community kids. 

“I already have two $100 donations,” she said. “... I do have that in my money box already. Really appreciate Austin (Spragg) and his work last year. Bought a new pool cleaner, thank you ... I do have lifeguards. I’ve got nine, possibly 10 ... I had four get certified just this last weekend and another one getting recertified next weekend. We run two shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 4 (p.m.) and 4 to 7 (p.m.).” 

In other business, the council approved a $1 raise for the Arma City Library’s caretaker/cleaner Brenda Prince, accepting the rate of $11.50. According to Arma City Library Director Shelley Corley, 50 cents of the increase is coming from the library while the remaining 50 cents are gifted by the city. 

The city also accepted its yearly appointments, which are Wheeler & Mitchelson (city attorney), GNBank/Community National Bank (city banks), Bette Lessen (city clerk), The Morning Sun (city publication), John Austin (police chief), Tim Intessimone (fire chief), and Lori Laverack (city treasurer). Meetings remain held on the first and third Monday of every month at 6 p.m. 

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, May 18. Meetings are held at the council meeting room next door to Arma City Hall, located at 701 E. Washington St. For more information or to be placed on the agenda, call the Arma City Hall at 620-347-4125.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.