The South Haven City Council continues to consider its options for bringing back a lifeguard program to the city’s beaches.
At a Monday meeting, the council heard from Heather Johnson, who it voted to have conduct a study on the issue last month. Johnson laid out a multi-phased plan to bring back lifeguards, beginning with a needs assessment, the establishment of a budget, the procurement of equipment, and finally, recruitment and training. It could take years, or she said it could be faster.
“If you guys decided today that you want lifeguards and you put that in place with city staff and they were able to start the ball rolling, you could have lifeguards this year,” Johnson said.
Council members didn’t seem intent on moving that quickly. Rather, they told City Manager Kate Hosier they want to know more about the cost.
Council member Wendy Onuki thanked Johnson.
“We’ve heard from so many residents and visitors about bringing lifeguards back,” Onuki said. “I know a lot of us on council have talked about it. We’ve just kind of been spinning our wheels, trying to figure out how we could potentially move this forward, and I think that asking you to do that, you being willing to bring this to us was just a huge first step.”
Member Joe Reeser said he doesn’t believe restarting the lifeguard program is impossible but said more needs to be known on cost and safety. Hosier said it is important that things be done deliberately and with caution.
The council did not vote on the matter during Monday’s meeting.
