The Board of Directors of the Lebanon Aquatic District briefly indicated there will be rate changes at the Lebanon Community Pool during its June 8 meeting.
The proposed rate changes, effective Sept. 1, 2026, were provided to the board, but no further information on what those proposed changes are were given publicly, and they have not responded to a request by The New Era.
Aquatics Director Jill Smith also announced a new state law requiring kids under 14 years old to have a parent in the building when they are using the pool. The law went into effect April 2025.
“It used to be you could drop off a 10-year-old, and now you can’t,” Smith said. “We’re gonna get a lot of grief about it, kids that like to ride their bikes down here in the summer and such, but it is a law.”
Board Director Darla Bulmer said it doesn’t apply to Swim Club, as kids are under the care of the coach at that time.
However, just after the board meeting, news reports across the state began to surface indicating the Oregon Health Authority is revisiting the new rule and will hold a public process this fall to get more input from public pool operators, lifeguards, regulators and child guardians. Until then, OHA will hold a temporary rule that pools strongly recommend – rather than require – adult supervision.
In other business:
- The board approved its $1.4 million budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
- Bulmer suggested the board continue working with the school district’s project management company to make pool renovation repairs as needed. There currently is no money to do “the big projects,” she said, so they will focus on smaller projects.
- Bulmer talked about getting rid of extra, unused equipment throughout the facility.
- Smith said summer rec swims and summer swim lessons begin this month. New staff has been hired to fill in for some of the lessons spots.
- There will be pool closure days in August for maintenance.