Marietta announces pool closure, answers questions at public audit meeting
Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels, left, presents information from a performance audit performed by the state while other council members and Mayor Josh Schlicher, fourth from left, listen during a public meeting on the audit Thursday night. The performance audit predicts that Marietta’s general fund will be depleted by as early as 2025 and suggests staff cuts as one way to save money. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Marietta Fire Captain Eric Morre speaks during a public meeting on the city’s performance audit Thursday night. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Marietta At-Large Council woman Cassidi Shoaf, right, speaks to audience members while At-large Councilman Ben Rutherford listens during a public meeting on the city’s negative performance audit. The council is proposing possible staff cuts in response to the performance audit. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden suggests entering into a memorandum of understanding with the three unions that represent public works, fire and police employees to renegotiate the 3% raises that were included in the unions’ recently negotiated collective bargaining agreements as a tactic to save the city of Marietta money during a public meeting held Thursday evening for the city’s performance audit. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
People jump into the pool at the Marietta Aquatic Center during an end of summer party thrown by the Right Path in August 2018. Mayor Joshua Schlicher announced during a public meeting on the city’s performance audit Thursday night that the city will not open the aquatic center this year in an attempt to save money in response to the performance audit. (File Photo)
Community members enjoy the Marietta Aquatic Center in July 2019. Mayor Joshua Schlicher announced that the city will not open the aquatic center this year as a way to save money in light of a performance audit of the city predicting the city’s general fund could be depleted as early as 2025. (File Photo)
Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels, left, presents information from a performance audit performed by the state while other council members and Mayor Josh Schlicher, fourth from left, listen during a public meeting on the audit Thursday night. The performance audit predicts that Marietta’s general fund will be depleted by as early as 2025 and suggests staff cuts as one way to save money. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Marietta Fire Captain Eric Morre speaks during a public meeting on the city’s performance audit Thursday night. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Marietta At-Large Council woman Cassidi Shoaf, right, speaks to audience members while At-large Councilman Ben Rutherford listens during a public meeting on the city’s negative performance audit. The council is proposing possible staff cuts in response to the performance audit. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden suggests entering into a memorandum of understanding with the three unions that represent public works, fire and police employees to renegotiate the 3% raises that were included in the unions’ recently negotiated collective bargaining agreements as a tactic to save the city of Marietta money during a public meeting held Thursday evening for the city’s performance audit. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
People jump into the pool at the Marietta Aquatic Center during an end of summer party thrown by the Right Path in August 2018. Mayor Joshua Schlicher announced during a public meeting on the city’s performance audit Thursday night that the city will not open the aquatic center this year in an attempt to save money in response to the performance audit. (File Photo)
Community members enjoy the Marietta Aquatic Center in July 2019. Mayor Joshua Schlicher announced that the city will not open the aquatic center this year as a way to save money in light of a performance audit of the city predicting the city’s general fund could be depleted as early as 2025. (File Photo)
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MARIETTA -- The city of Marietta announced cost saving measures during a public meeting on the city's performance audit Thursday night -- including not opening the Marietta Aquatic Center this year -- in response to the audit projecting the city's general fund could be depleted as early as 2025.
Mayor Josh Schlicher, all Marietta City Council members except for Ward One Councilman Michael Scales who had a previously scheduled medical appointment, Marietta employees, employees' family members and concerned community members filled the auditorium at Washington State College of Ohio where the meeting was held.
Schlicher spoke about cost saving measures, saying that after having meetings and compiling information, the city's administration has started implementing some of the cost saving ideas brought forward.
The big announcement related to cost saving measures the city is taking is the closure of the Marietta Aquatic Center.
"We have explored other options on the operation of our aquatic center such as leasing it to an operator and while we have had discussions with our pool management company about trimming costs in the way of concessions and personnel these in no way would cover the projected loss for the yearly operations," Schlicher said.
According to Schlicher, it costs $25,000 a year in electricity to run the aquatic center.
"The aquatic center is in the best shape it has ever been since it was built, " Schlicher said. "I realize how large of an investment it is to the city of Marietta and the citizens of Marietta."
The aquatic center lost money the last two years and is projected to lose money this year as well, he said.
"Taking all these factors into consideration we are making the hard decision to not open the aquatic center for the year 2024."
According to Schlicher, not opening the aquatic center has a projected savings of approximately $300,000, though this does not include knowing what the actual revenue would be for this year to offset costs.
Schlicher also mentioned two other cost saving measures the city has implemented.
According to Schlicher, not renewing the mowing contract has a potential savings of almost $100,000. He also said the city has parted ways with three seasonal part-time workers who work in the cemetery and the move is expected to save almost $58,000.
"While making these decisions (is) hard, it seemed like the right thing to do," Schlicher said. "I am asking you, the employees, the public, the city council, to support me in these decisions."
Schlicher also talked about how the city is trying to increase revenue by meeting with investors interested in Marietta.
"I can announce that developers have given the go ahead on approximately $40 million in new development in Marietta," he said about investments coming to Marietta.
Schlicher also shared his thoughts on the proposed possible staff cuts.
"At this time I am making the recommendation that we do not eliminate any positions or lay off any personnel," Schlicher said.
He believes cost saving measures have been brought forward that in the future will eventually lead to a reduction in staffing through attrition, getting rid of unfilled positions and changes in the way departments operate.
Much of the meeting was taken up by council's response to the public's written and verbal questions that were submitted before the meeting. When Council President Susan Vessels tried to end the meeting at 7:15 p.m as planned, attendees were visibly upset, with some responding by shouting questions and comments and with others waiting patiently to talk, but with all insisting they be heard regardless of the meeting format, causing the meeting to last two hours.
Another question addressed at the meeting is why the city is considering police cuts when drug problems are on the rise in Marietta. Vessels responded to the question with statistics from the police department's 2023 annual report, including that the Marietta Police Department conducted 10 arrests for drug possession arrests, seven drug paraphernalia arrests, 2 DUI arrests, 2 illegal conveyance of drugs arrests and one operating a vehicle impaired (OVI) arrest.
The audience broke out in multiple comments after the OVI statistic, with some of them shouting "no" and one man even laughing. At-Large Councilman Harvey Noland asked that if the information is incorrect, people supply council with the correct numbers in writing.
Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden issued an official statement on Friday in which she addressed the statistics issue.
"Using data without context to justify legislating a reduction in staffing is disingenuous," Warden said. "Not everything that an officer does is quantifiable and measuring the productivity of a police officer is a multifaceted process that should not be analyzed with one statistic that is taken out of context."
There will be a joint employee relations and finance committees meeting Monday at 5:15 p.m. at room 10 at the Marietta Armory.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com