Topeka grandmother dislikes pool policy
10:50 p.m. Monday, July 21, 2008
Topeka — A Topeka grandmother says she was just doing the responsible thing by wanting to watch her two grandkids at a city pool.
What she didn't expect was being charged full price, despite not planning to swim. When Sandy Hartman took her two grandkids to Blaisdell Pool recently she wasn't planning to swim herself, and was surprised when she was charged the full adult price.
"I don't think you should have to pay to watch your kids swim," said Hartman.
So, she fired off e-mails to members of the City Council, and got responses from a couple AND City Manager Norton Bonaparte. City officials say they've heard the complaint before.
"This is something that comes up every year," said city spokesman David Bevens.
The City has it's reasons, but they don't convince Hartman.
"This is a practice throughout the area," said Bevens. "Lawrence has a similar practice. The North Pool out in the county has a similar practice."
Hartman responds, "Well, do your own thing. You don't have to follow the group all the time. You can think outside the box."
"We are charging people for the use of the facility," said Bevens. "Whether they choose to hop in the pool is up to them. Really, it's an admittance fee."
"I don't think they incur any more costs with me sitting in a chair than with me not sitting in it," said Hartman.
On another point, Bevens said, "We don't want to have to keep track of those who are swimming and those who aren't swimming."
Hartman responds, "I was dressed kind of like I am now so it was obvious I wasn't going to swim."
Hartman's main point is other parents and grandparents are avoiding the fee she paid, by dropping their kids off at city pools
"I think that's fine if they're comfortable with that, but if I want to go in and watch, I shouldn't have to pay for the privilege," she said.
Hartman says she's not on a crusade, but.....
"I just saw the movie The Bucket List and I've always wanted to picket for a good cause. And maybe that's next. I don't know. I'm not promising, but maybe you'll see me out there with a bunch of ladies like myself picketing. We'll see. I don't know."
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Jul. 21, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)GIJOE (anonymous)
the city council is a joke. they dont look after the citizens of Topeka. what use of the pool was she using? Charging her full price to use a chair!! Who cares if they use the same practice anywhere else.
Jul. 22, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)locoducky (anonymous)
I agree that the city council is a joke. We have been shown that time and time again. I am not sure how I feel on this, I understand that they charge everyone because there are people out there that would get in saying they are there to watch their kids, having a swimsuit underneath and would get in to swim for free and we all know we good people get to pay for the sins of the people who like to cheat others. But, being a parent myself of younger kids, I am not about to just "drop them off" for a busy lifeguard to watch. I have been to that pool and they did a great job watching everyone, whether it was kids being watched or kids that there parents weren't watching them, but there are alot of people in that pool and I just don't want to chance that something won't happen. Yes, I swim when I am there, but I was recently at a party there and a lot of the people with the party didn't swim. I feel for her that she had to pay 4 bucks just to spend time with her grandkids and watch them swim like a responsible adult. I don't think it said the ages of the kids, but not everyone feels comfortable just assuming their kids will be watched. They need to figure something out. I am not sure what, because like I said they can't promise that she isn't just one of those trying to cheat the system and get in for free, but there are good people out there that don't want to waste 4 bucks to sit.
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