By Michael Howell
The Bitterroot Aquatic Center (BAC) Board of Directors has decided to delay changes in its schedule that would have reduced the evening practice hours of the Bitterroot Swim Team (BST). Swim team parents showed up in force to protest the changes when they were initially announced this spring.
BAC board chairperson Carla Albert defended the change in schedule as a way to try and involve a broader spectrum of the public in pool use during the evening hours. She said it only reduced the use of the pool by BST by two hours.
Resistance from the BST members was stiff, however. The organization pays what they consider a hefty fee, $6,000, for use of the pool. They argued that evening hours were crucial to their program since so many parents work and can only make the evening sessions. Feeling shell-shocked by the proposed changes, swim team parents pleaded with the board to hold off on the changes until the current season was over and more time could be spent on settling the issue.
Instead, the BAC board came up with several options for changes, all of which still involved reduction in the evening hours devoted to the swim team.
Swim team members decided to take their case to the County Commissioners who have ultimate authority over the Park District that includes the swimming pool.
That meeting was cancelled at the last minute, however, as the BAC board relented and agreed to keep the existing schedule in place for this summer season. Potential changes in the schedule, according to Commissioner Jeff Burrows, will be worked out over the winter.