Mother upset with pool closures

Claims it was shut numerous times

OTHELLO - An Othello mother told Othello City Council she is concerned with the city pool.

"There's been several times I've sent my kids to the pool this summer," Maria Espinoza said.

She said her three sons have been kicked out of the pool due to lack of patrons at the pool about three times.

Once her sons were dropped off at the pool, they had no way of getting in contact with her to get home, Espinoza said.

"I don't think they were kicked out," Mayor Shannon McKay said.

He said the only time the pool was closed due to lack of patrons was July 29 and it was a mistake. After the unauthorized closure, pool management was counseled for their mistake.

McKay said the pool was closed two other times due to lightning.

Closure due to a lightning storm is authorized and mandatory for public safety.

Espinoza said the three times her sons were kicked out, they were told it was because of lack of patrons at the pool.

"What could have happened to my kids?" she said.

"You give me dates," McKay said. "You're being pretty vague."

She was unable to provide dates but said it happened sometime in July.

"People started telling me I should speak up," Espinoza said.

"Absolutely," McKay said. "We have changed our policy, we do not leave kids. We don't shut down because of poor attendance, that was a mistake."

According to the pool policy, if the pool is closed, management is to attempt to locate parents. Children are not to be left at the pool. They are taken to city hall and police dispatch begins calling parents.