May 17, 2022 – West Bend, WI – There was a 40-minute discussion during Monday night’s Board of Public Works meeting regarding a proposal to add a compact fill to Regner Park Pond and turn it into a 3-foot wading pond.
The crux of the issue, according to the parks director, was the inability to hire lifeguards.
After much discussion including offering a higher wage to lifeguards ($15), closing the pool for the 2022 season, or sectioning off a portion of the pond to limit access, the common council took up the issue and voted 5-2 to move forward to accept bids on the cost to fill a portion of the pond. The early cost estimate was about $100,000.
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According to city officials a vote on the compact fill was taken to meet the required timeline for public project bidding requirements.
The common council will still need to meet again to determine if this is the best solution on how to move forward. At this point it is simply exploring bids on the cost of the compact fill.
Another meeting will be held in the coming months to determine the next step at Regner Park.
Dist. 4 alderman Randy Koehler and Dist. 5 aldermen Jed Dolnick were the two dissenting votes. District 6 alderwoman Tracy Ahrens was not in attendance with an excused absence.
Alderman voting in favor of putting the project out for bid included: Dist. 1 John Butschlick, Dist. 2 Mark Allen, Dist. 3 Brett Bergquist, Dist. 7 Justice Madl, and Dist. 8 Meghann Kennedy.
A couple notes:
- In the past Regner Park Pond has been referred to as the “crown jewel” of the community. The term has also been used for the Historic West Bend Theatre.
- According to the city, any lifeguard applications received after today’s meeting will probably be shifted to fill other open positions with the parks department, which is also looking for staff to maintain the parks this summer.
- Dist. 4 alderman Randy Koehler said he couldn’t support the proposal because the item came to the council “way too quick.” “We basically got this notice on Friday and here it is Monday and we’re expected to make a decision that impacts the entire community. My opinion is we close it this year. We’re making a kneejerk reaction to do something that none of us know what’s going to happen a year from now. Next year we may come back and say there’s more interest now let’s spend $150,000 to remove the fill. This is way too quick. Let this settle and look at other alternatives.”
- Dist. 2 alderman Mark Allen asked why not postpone the decision. He also asked if it was possible to dredge it (the compact fill) out and the answer was “sure” but it was anticipated it could cost more as everything is going up in price.
- Click HERE for some Regner Park Pond memories from You Know You Are from West Bend if…
- Removing the diving platform/raft would allow the city to reduce the number of lifeguards at the pond by two.
- The initial story regarding the proposal to potentially use compact fill in the pond was published Saturday, May 14, 2022.
- Dist. 5 alderman Jed Dolnick asked if it was possible to shrink the area of the pond through the use of flotation devices so fewer lifeguards would be necessary. He was told it would be nearly impossible to do that.
- “I have to agree with alderman Koehler, this is an irrevocable step once we put the dirt or sand in there… we’re not going back and I’m not comfortable with doing it as the immediate solution. As bad as closing it would be for the summer I think it’s the lesser of the two evils then what’s being suggested. I think it’s also bizarre we went to the great lengths to restore the beach house and retain the architectural features of the beach house in recognition of its historical significance and then we’re talking about doing this to the pond. Maybe ultimately it will have to be done but I’m not comfortable doing it right now,” said Dist. 5 alderman Jed Dolnick.
- Over the past year the City has solicited and accepted over $1 million in donations for a “community-minded project” to refurbish the bath house at Regner which was originally built in 1935.
- It was noted Yahr Park and Lake Lenwood, both in Washington County, are lakes that do not have lifeguards but have signs posted to “swim at your own risk.” Regner Park pond reportedly operates under a different standard since it is a man-made pond.
- Out of the hundreds of people who chimed in on social media with suggestions and gripes regarding the future of the pond and the pending plan only one person showed up in person at the council meeting to show their concern about the issue.
- Mike Staral is head of the West Bend Parks Commission. When questioned what other options they reviewed he said, it was never brought to them for consideration. “We have not had a Parks Commission meeting on it yet. Yes, it was supposed to go to us first and then the council but that didn’t happen,” said Staral.
- Neighbors have weighed in on social media with their thoughts.
- There is an in-ground pool at the West Bend High School. We reached out for the schedule for public swim. Below is the answer
- This is a working story, and more information will be added when details become available.
To the uncommon common council!
An important matter is given only a few days notice and then 40 minutes of discussion?
You are definitely not giving justice to the important matter of Regner Park swimming pool!
I give credit to Randy Koehler. The others seem to be more interested in high end housing developments and have little time to think about things like a fantastic park that has been around since 1935.
The kicker for the destruction of a jewel- the lack of life guards! How hard did this sad Rec Dept try to fill these positions? The rec dept has been avoiding this park for quite some time! If not for private groups(and money) ,little would have been done!
I know the ( seldom heard of) mayor and the majority of the common council and it’s leader want West Bend to be a bedroom suburb -so keeping a great outdoor swimming area should be a plus!