Alleged incidents of trans-female exposing penis, July 4th abortion protest potential catalysts for new approach to hiring pool manager

After a controversial opening season of the Cameron Aquatic Center, the management group overseeing the pool recently placed a bid more than doubling their original bid. 

Last year, following a tumultuous opening season of the $4.7 million aquatic center, Cameron Parks Superintendent Steve Garr announced plans to rebid the pool contract, and during last Thursday’s special Cameron Park Board meeting he said Midwest Pool Management’s $84,965 submission may be the winning bid.

“Last year, they got $32,200. This year, they’re asking for $84,965. OK, if you want to go to the base salary, that was in the contract last year, it was $134,035. That means the manager gets $19, which is higher than Overland Park (Kansas) pays, because I did look into that as well. The assistant manager is $18, lifeguard $14, concessions $14. In Overland Park, they give them $9. The bid now, for salary, is $228,400, over double,” said Cameron city Councilwoman Becky Curtis, which Garr responded by saying the figures presented in the bids also reflects costs associated the employee and not the employee’s take-home pay. 

Midwest Pool Management gained notoriety in Cameron after a pair of alleged incidents prompted harsh criticism from Cameron residents during multiple Cameron City Council meetings last summer. The first involved an alleged plan to hold a protest regarding the US Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe vs. Wade during the July 4th Free Swim, which pool managers later said was a joke misinterpreted from a group text. The second incident involved a mother posting on social media about her daughter seeing a transexual female’s exposed penis while showering nude in the women’s locker room. 

Without mentioning the incidents, Garr said he will make a strong recommendation the park board have more input in the hiring process for a new pool manager. 

“Obviously, we can’t tell them who they hire. We can make some recommendations on local people we think would make a good fit for the local management position or at least have a little bit more input and steer off some of the issues we ran into last year. Like everything else, it’s harder and harder to find staff regardless. I’ve had some local teachers that are interested,” Garr said. “It’s in their best interests as well. They don’t want to hire somebody that’s going to be problematic. I feel like they’d be open to whatever suggestions can give them … It’s their company, but we can make some recommendations, maybe have a little input, and it will be a win-win for both groups.”