CHESTNUT RUN Swim beach to open June 12

A commissioner warned the county will likely have to increase taxes next year.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- The Chestnut Run Swim Beach will open for the summer season.
Mercer County Commissioners Michele Brooks and Olivia Lazor agreed Thursday to sign a contract with Mercer County Council of Governments obligating commissioners to provide $15,000 per year for operating costs.
Opening of the beach had been in doubt because commissioners were reluctant to sign a new 25-year lease for the facility, which would continue the county's obligation to pay 75 percent of operating deficits.
Of the $15,000, $5,000 will come from the county's general fund. The remaining $10,000 will come from federal funds administered by the county.
Commissioners will take the $10,000 per year in annual Community Development Block Grant money now designated for COG's Mercer County Community Transit program and use it for beach operations instead.
Disagreement
Commissioner Brian Beader was the dissenter, saying the county will have a hard time finding even $5,000 for the beach in the general fund in 2005. He added that he believes a tax hike will be needed next year for the county to meet its obligations. He questioned spending money on the beach when funds are so tight. He also said that the CDBG funds designated for the beach could be used for more worthy projects.
James DeCapua, COG executive director, said the $10,000 the transit system will lose is a small portion of its budget and will not have a major effect.
Brooks said it would be a shame to let the beach close after $1.4 million has been invested in it over the past 26 years.
She pointed out that the lease provides the county the option to pull out with 90 days notice.
"We should give it a year or two to see if it works," she said.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which owns the beach, had informed commissioners that it would permanently close the beach if commissioners did not reach an agreement with COG by yesterday's meeting.
The county leases the beach, located at Shenango River Lake, from the corps and has an operating agreement with COG to run the facility.
DeCapua said Thursday that the beach will be open daily starting June 12 through Labor Day. He said that because of the uncertainty surrounding the beach opening, COG is getting a late start in selling summer swim passes. To make up for the late start, COG will offer a 50 percent discount on swim passes bought before June 12.
A family pass, which usually is $79.95, will be $39.95. A single-swim pass, usually $39.95, will be $19.95. A senior citizen swim pass is now $17.95, a reduction of $18.