Guttenberg Municipal Swimming Pool to open

By Caroline Rosacker

The Guttenberg Municipal Swimming Pool is set to open Saturday, May 28, at 12 noon for adult laps, and 1 p.m. for public swimming.

City office employees and Rec Board members have been working hard to secure a dedicated staff. "We have hired a pool manager and two assistant managers, 13 lifeguards, one slide attendant and eight basket room/concession workers," says Assistant City Manager Jamie Blume. "The three managers are also certified lifeguards and will be spending some time in the chairs as needed."

The City office is still accepting swim lesson forms until May 27; at this time no late forms will be accepted after that date. "Forms are available on our website and in the hallway of the municipal building," noted Blume.

Pool hours

• Adult swim times are 6 - 8 a.m., Monday - Friday, and noon- 12:50 p.m., and 5 - 5:50 p.m. daily. 

• Open swim times are 1 - 4:50 p.m., and 6 - 7:50 p.m. daily.

Season Pass

• Individual passes are $95 for patrons residing in Guttenberg and those who own property within the city limits and $105 for those living outside the city limits.  

• Family passes are $185 for residents and $195 for non-residents.  

• Grandparent/Babysitter passes are offered as an add-on for family passes and are $65 for a resident and $75 for non-residents.

"In previous years we have had a large number of patrons wait until the pool opens to purchase their pool passes. This can create a lengthy wait when multiple patrons would like to purchase passes," explained Blume. "We do sell the passes at the City office until the first day the pool opens and the wait times are much shorter.  We would like to encourage anyone wanting to purchase a pass to stop by the city office and avoid the wait times at the pool."

Admission

• Adult swim times and the evening open swim are $2.50 for anyone age 4 and older.  

• Afternoon open swim time is $5 for anyone age 4 and older.  

• Punch cards are also available for $45 (afternoon) and $22.50 (evening or adult swim times) equaling a buy nine admissions, get one free package. 

Bridget Schaufenbuel

Pool Manager 

Bridget Schaufenbuel, Clayton Ridge High School mathematics teacher, has been hired to manage the swimming pool this summer. Schaufenbuel grew up west of Guttenberg in Fredericksburg and graduated from Sumner-Fredericksburg High School. She attended Wartburg College, Waverly, earning a bachelors degree in secondary math education. 

Schaufenbuel is both Lifeguard and WSI certified and has seven years of prior pool experience. She has worked as a lifeguard, head guard and assistant manager at the Fredericksburg pool, Sumner Family Aquatic Center and the W-aquatics center at Wartburg College. 

"I applied for the pool manager position because I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working as a lifeguard, and I want to share this experience with other lifeguards," said Schaufenbuel. "It is a unique job where you get great experience working with the kids during swimming lessons as well as all ages of community members who come to cool off on a hot summer day."

Schaufenbuel looks forward to her new role as pool manager. "In previous years, I have balanced the work of lifeguarding and working as an assistant manager. I am excited to use my experience and place my focus solely into managerial duties such as helping and teaching the guards in many valuable employability and life skills."

For additional information call the City office at 563-252-1161. Office hours are Monday - 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or online at http://cityofguttenbergia.gov.