I-TEAM: A deeper look at public pool closures in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Wallet Hub released its list of healthiest and unhealthiest cities in America, and Augusta came in at the bottom as the fifth unhealthiest city in the nation.

The ranking factors include access to food, healthcare, green space and recreational facilities.

On Tuesday, commissioners will continue the discussion of procuring an audit of the Parks and Recreation Department. This comes after an internal investigation led to the director’s resignation earlier this year.

Our I-TEAM followed the money.

On Tuesday, we reported community pools in Augusta have limited hours and days.

And it feels like déjà vu all over again.

In 2022, the city opened three pools for four hours a day, citing a staffing shortage for the limited operational hours.

Fast forward to 2024, and now only two pools are open again with limited hours and again due to staffing shortage.

The I-TEAM followed the money to find out why a problem two years ago is the same problem today.

We sent in an open records request for parks and rec’s 2023 budget proposal — essentially a list of needs to keep the department running — and it’s a long list.

SEE THE DOCUMENTS:

A lifeguard pay increase to be competitive with agencies such as the Family Y and Kroc Center.

Additional funds were also to cover the increased cost of supplies, materials, chemicals, and to replace and maintain old equipment like pool ladders, ring buoys, and life jackets.

The I-TEAM did not find the requests in the adopted budget but did find commissioners approved $1,500 less than requested for Jones Pool and $1,000 less than requested for Fleming Pool.

Commissioners budgeted funds to maintain the pool at Dyess Park until it turned into a splash pad.

Our I-TEAM also found at the same time the city abolished eight positions in Parks and Rec including deputy director of support services, safety coordinator, skilled maintenance and an aquatics position.

“Just to clarify, Ms. Douse, is this the same thing we did with Mission Impossible at Augusta University last year?” asked Commissioner Jordan Johnson.

Mission Impossible is when commissioners enter a budget session blind.

Wayne Guilfoyle: “So, without us knowing what department directors want, we are going to look at addressing a budget and try to set a priority for the department directors without having any knowledge of what they need.”

Takiyah Douse: “No sir. As done in the past, the department directors speak very candidly to commissioners during the budget work session.”

But what’s done in the past has not ended the cycle of déjà vu in Augusta.

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