Hampton sets rates for city pool

The Hampton City Council heard more on residential traffic and set pool rates for the summer during their regular meeting on Thursday, April 8.

Lu and Dan Rodemeyer returned to the council to address the traffic issue in the southeast area of the city.

Since the last meeting, the Rodemeyers have been proactive in trying to get people to slow down on the streets, talking with Hampton-Dumont Superintendent Todd Lettow about the issue. Lettow has sent out a letter to parents asking them to slow down in school areas and rerouted buses to take a different path to the highway.

Lu Rodemeyer also presented several letters and comments from other area residents or frequent visitors who attested to the near misses they've had with traffic in the area, one of which came from a young child.

"Our children in Hampton, Iowa should not be writing letters like this," said Rodemeyer. "This child's letter is enough to say we should put stop signs on that corner. Forget your fact finding."

Moving into regular business, the council held a public hearing for the consideration of the sale of the vacated alley behind First Bank Hampton. With no comments reported, the city sold the alley to First Bank Hampton for $1, thought they retain an easement on the property.

The council also approved an application for tax abatement from Spear Rentals under the Urban Revitalization plan. The abatement applies to $60,000 of improvements, which includes the addition of a garage and new windows and roof to the house.

Preparing for the summer, the council met with Aquatic Center Manager Emileigh Eilderts to set rates for the pool this year.

Family passes can be pre-ordered at a discount price of $100 though May 29. Starting May 30, the price will be $135.

Season pass holders that pre-order will also be offered the opportunity to enjoy an early opening on May 28 and 29 before the pool officially opens to the public on May 30. This is both an incentive to encourage people to pre-order a pass and a way to break in the new staff with a couple days of a smaller crowd.

For daily admissions, there will be no more discount for users 18 and under. Instead, the daily admission fee will be $4 per person for everybody over the age of two.

The price of punch cards is also increasing, set at $30 for ten punches.

The council also agreed to raise Eildert's wage to $15 per hour and set the Assistant Manager's wage to $10 with a $.25 increase for returning from the following year. Lifeguard wages will be $8.50 and concession/front desk workers will make $7.25, all receiving $.25 increases for returning employees.

In other business, the council held the third and final reading of the proposed moratorium on new bars, taverns, nightclubs, or any other establishments with liquor licenses. This moratorium will put a hold on any potential new openings until the city can update their noise ordinances to reduce issues with people in neighboring residential areas.