News File Photo Alpena Plaza Pool patrons are seen swimming at the pool. located at Alpena High School.

ALPENA — Alpena County is saving money in operations of the Plaza Pool since it decided not to hire contractors to manage the pool.

On Wednesday, Alpena County Administrator Jesse Osmer said the commissioners decided to resume management control of the pool late in 2024 and took over operations on Jan.1 in an effort to save money. He said, so far, the move is paying dividends.

By taking back management duties of the pool, the county hopes it could make tweaks in operations, scheduling, and events to make it less of a financial burden on taxpayers.

Osmer said the former management group did a good job, but a change was needed and the County needed to have a more hands-on approach for operations. Through the first nine months of this year, the pool has managed to stay within its budget and even help contribute to other county needs.

“We felt by taking it back, it was an opportunity to save money and not pay a third party,” Osmer said. “So far this year, we have absolutely saved money and for the first time that anyone on the board can remember, the pool has actually contributed money to the general fund. It gave $5,000 to help pay for the new radios for the sheriff’s office.”

Commissioner John Kozlowski said last fiscal year, which runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, the county paid its contractor about $47,000 to manage the pool.

The county was still on the hook for repair costs and additional allocations from the general fund were needed when the pool’s budget began to go into the red.

Osmer said the county wasn’t seeing a return on investment with the contract and since the switch in management, operations are still going smoothly and become less costly this year.

“The Plaza Pool has had to utilize no general fund dollars in their operations, and are on track to end their year in the black,” Osmer said.

Over the years, the pool has struggled and supported financially by the county, funds from the county-wide youth and recreation millage, and fundraising by the Friends of the Plaza Pool. Without the local recreation tax, it is likely the pool would have to close.

The millage is slated to expire at the end of next year, but the county is considering seeking a four-year renewal.

Next year, the youth and recreation committee has allocated $100,000 from the local tax to help support the pool financially.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.