Pay increases at Alameda Park to attract staffers
The county salary board approved increased pay rates and cash incentives at its Wednesday meeting for all seasonal positions at Alameda Park in an effort to attract lifeguards, maintenance workers, cashiers and camp counselors.
Lance Welliver, county parks and recreation director, said the high school and college students who normally fill the positions are not applying for the seasonal spots as they have in years past.
Leslie Osche, the county commissioners chairwoman who sits on the salary board along with the other two commissioners, said the pay increases are in response to widespread difficulty in recruiting workers.
The former pay for full-time lifeguards was $8.75 per hour for the first year of employment with the county, $9 per hour the second year and $9.25 the third year.
Part-time lifeguards were paid $8.75 per hour.
The 2021 rate is $10 per hour with eligibility for certification reimbursement up to $200, an additional $200 for instructing at least three swimming classes, $200 for working at least half of the lane-rental sessions, $500 for recruiting another lifeguard and $500 for working more than 250 hours in 2021.
Welliver said due to the lack of lifeguards, the pool at Alameda is closed Monday and Tuesday and closes at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The pool is open normal hours on Friday and Saturday only, he said.
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