GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — Green Bay officials hope an increase in pay will help recruit more lifeguards for the 2022 season, after staffing shortages this past summer caused a delayed opening for one pool and another to not open at all.
It's a nationwide problem that Ann Moeller, recreation supervisor with the Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department, started noticing in 2019.
"Pre-Covid we were already starting to see lifeguard shortages," Moeller said. "Can't blame the whole thing on the pandemic, but it definitely highlighted the lifeguard shortages."
That issue extended into the 2021 swimming season. Green Bay opened the Resch Aquatic Center on time this summer, but delayed the opening of Colburn Pool due to lack of staffing.
Joannes Aquatic Center never opened. Moeller said they needed at least 20 more lifeguards to have even discussed getting the facility up and running.
Joannes Aquatic Center remained closed this summer due to a lack of lifeguards. City officials hope an increase in pay will help recruiting efforts in 2022.
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Hourly pay will be $12.69, up 50 cents from 2021. It could increase another $1, depending on how officials use the money. pic.twitter.com/DHMJ96b2Hg
In an effort to attract more people to the job, lifeguards can now expect at least a 50 cent an hour raise in 2022. That brings starting pay to $12.69 an hour. The increase was included in the mayor's proposed 2022 budget and approved by the Green Bay Common Council Tuesday at its budget meeting.
"Hopefully that little added pay incentive will be kind of that shining star on top," Moeller said.
The Joint Finance/Personnel Committee also recommended increasing the budget by $20,000 to go toward additional pay incentives for lifeguards. The council approved this Tuesday as well.
Dan Ditscheit, Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department director, said they're working on a plan to decide whether to use the additional $20,000 for hourly pay raises or incentives, which would incorporate a bonus. If the money goes solely toward the hourly pay rate, he said lifeguard salaries will go up another $1.00 over the already approved increase. That would bring starting pay to $13.69 an hour.
"Hopefully it incentivizes them to see that pay increase and attracts them to come over and lifeguard with us," said James Andersen, assistant director with the Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department. "Once we get people in, usually they find out this is a great job."
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Both Moeller and Andersen said they hope the additional pay incentives will keep all three of Green Bay's pools open next summer.
“We want to make sure that we provide a high level of service for our community members and any visitors coming into Green Bay," Andersen said. "We don’t enjoy it when we can’t have those facilities open for our public to enjoy. And right now, especially with COVID, I think we need recreation, and public health, and leisure, health and wellness opportunities, more than any other time.”
Moeller said they'll hire between 75 and 100 lifeguards this summer. She hopes to have a job posting up in December.
Interested candidates don't need to have lifeguard training to apply. Andersen said the city will provide free training before summer begins.
