HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1029.004 1996-1998
Rosemarie Wong
P. O. Box 192
Papaaloa, Hawaii 96780
Thursday, November 5, 1998
Dear Council Members of the County of Hawaii,
r Laupahoehoe Community Swimming Pool has always been the pride of our community.
We moved to Papaaloa approximately 19 years ago and knew that this would be the right place to
raise our family. The pool, under the direction of our present Life Guard, Thaes Bowman, has
always been excellently maintained for all. Through all the years that I have lived here, Ms.
Bowman, has been an inspiration to all our children and adults who have come for either lessons
or for recreation at our community pool. She has a positive can-do spirit and has taught hundreds
of children as well as adults who have come through our instructional programs. You should be
proud to know that you have hired one of the best Life Guards, Thaes Bowman..that is, who
dedicates her time and talents to insuring that our community pool is not only a fim place to be but
most importantly is a safe and clean place for all to enjoy.
Therefore, I come before you, council members, with concerns that are heavy in my heart...
and that is a "pilot" program that from what I understand is already in process. IfI have my facts
correct and please feel free to correct me ifI am ATong, these are the concerns:
(1) Sometimes before summer, it was discovered that Stan Roebrig had permission to use
Laupahoehoe Community Pool before regular public hours, since January of this year.
Also, that he was given the rights to receive keys from Laupahoehoe Police Department to
access to the public swimming pool. Ms. Bowman was not initially informed about this
approved activity and I find it very odd not to include her in the initial plans.
(2)To have access to a public swimming pool without the supervision of a Life Guard, as
far as I can recall, is unheard of. Basically for one reason and that is public safety to
prevent future accidents which could arise with costly litigation which could cost lots of
money from our taxes that are already stretched for other important county programs. What
process made it right for Mr. Roehrig to have this privilege? Why was it a privilege for
one person? Why wasn't the general public notified about such special privileges so
that all could benefit?
(3)) Well perhaps the WHYS has lead to this second concern. In the the month of'June a
"pilot program" was developed. I have not seen the policy or agreement for participants,
yet. From what I understand, though, the "pilot program" requires that if a person is to
use the public swimming pool without a Life Guard, the person must pass a swimming test.
After passing the test than the person would have access to the pool without the supervision
of a Life Guard. I find this to be very risky and it's an accident waiting to happen. Also, if
this is a "pilot program" it's not operating as a "pilot program" if the general public has not
been notified of such privileges, as I have not seen any formal public notice notifying our
community.
I'm not against when the pool is being used, but what I disagree on is that the
public pool is being accessible without the supervision of a Life Guard. A person may prove to
be a "strong" swimmer, but whose to say that said person might get a heart attack or perhaps be
injured by a fall, etc. Because it is a public swimming pool, how are we going to insure the safety
of these people who are qualified to use the pool and what insurance do we have about the
cleanliness of the facility? In terms of the use of a public facility, what is good for one is good for
all. When money is tight, we need to take great thought to prevent accidents from happening at the
expense of our taxpayers money. Cumm Ns. 102 y, Oaf
Respectfully Submitted, ne No. P KID
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