Prince Frederick, MD – A second attempt to contract with a management service for Calvert County’s three aquatic facilities has ended unsuccessfully. On Tuesday, Jan. 27 the Calvert County Commissioners voted unanimously to reject the latest bids for proposal to provide “turnkey management service” for the facilities.
The action taken was recommended by county government staff.
According to a memo from purchasing officer Roberta Baker to the commissioners, her office, the associate county attorney and the Parks and Recreation division chief “conducted preliminary examinations on the technical submittals and review of additional documents obtained from each company.”
Baker indicated that reference checks of the five bidders were conducted. The checks “revealed omission of references and false statements that certain municipalities were clients when they were not,” Baker stated. One of the companies bidding on the one-year contract did not meet the requirement for years of experience in municipal pool management, another did not comply with state lifeguard certification and mandated minimum staffing levels.
“In good conscience staff cannot recommend any of the companies to oversee the county’s aquatics operation,” Baker stated.
The county’s three aquatic facilities include the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center (ETHAC), which opened in 2010. That facility is open year-round while the Kings Land Swimming Pool and Cove Point Swimming Pool are open during the warm weather months.
“This is not a ‘good news’ item,” said Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R-District 3], who noted the indoor facility has been beset with “managerial issues” since opening. Slaughenhoupt expressed sadness that the effort to hire turnkey management for the pools “hasn’t panned out,” adding that he was convinced “continuing added responsibilities to Parks and Recreation may not be the way to go.
Baker’s memo stated that staff was recommending “taking the steps necessary to hire professional staff to continue self-operation of the pools.”
“I have very little confidence this proposal will be successful,” said Slaughenhoupt.
“We have to get accountability,” said Commissioner Mike Hart [R-District 1]. “It’s been four years with these issues. That’s enough.”
“We really do need to focus on it,” stated Commissioner Tom Hejl [R-At Large], who added ETHAC was built for the enjoyment of the county’s residents. “The citizens deserve it.”
“There are many special interest groups that are involved,” said Commissioner Pat Nutter [R-District 2], citing senior citizens, youth scholastic and recreational swim teams and average citizens as indoor pool users. Scheduling events such as meets, practices and classes, Nutter indicated, pose challenges for ETHAC’s staff. “It’s a very difficult job,” he said.
The 41,000 square-foot facility in Prince Frederick was built last decade after much public clamor. One of its main purposes was to provide Calvert’s four public high schools with an indoor swim meet venue.
Slaughenhoupt observed that the Parks and Recreation Division now has the added responsibility for a 209-acre tract in Dunkirk where a park will be developed. That facility fell more into the division’s bailiwick than the operation of an indoor pool, Slaughenhoupt opined.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com