Columbia City Council gets update on pool staffing, holds off on renaming airport

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council discussed staffing challenges with Parks and Recreation Director Mike Griggs Monday ahead of pool openings around the city.

Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center plans to open tomorrow as scheduled. However, Douglass Family Aquatic Center will open on July 1 only if enough lifeguards are hired to staff the pool.

At this time, Lake of the Woods Pool is not scheduled to open for 2021, and Little Mates Cove at Twin Lakes had already been designated to remain closed due to structural issues and a shortfall in revenue to pay for renovations and operation costs.

In the meeting Monday, Griggs said the city has hired new 18 new lifeguards, but needs a minimum of 70 to operate. At least 15 others have enrolled for training and five have committed to work this summer.

There are still two more training sessions for hopeful lifeguards. The first runs June 14-16 and the second is scheduled for June 18-20.

Lifeguards must be 15 years of age or older.

City council members also discussed possibly renaming Columbia Regional Airport (COU) to Columbia National Airport, but did not vote on the matter Monday. The new name is meant to reflect recent updates to the airport.

Ward 3 council member, Karl Skala, was the only person to comment on the renaming at the meeting.

"I am not prepared to put this to a vote," Skala said. "If the rest of the council wants to comment that would be fine too, but at this point, I'd frankly rather do nothing."

It is unclear when city council will discuss the renaming of COU again going forward.