Leechburg Area Pool Board votes to keep pool open

The Leechburg Area Pool is here to stay. At least for now.

At a pool board meeting Sunday night in Gilpin, officials said they received enough volunteers to be able to open the pool this season. They still are looking for more.

“This was exciting,” board member Dave Safranyos said. “All of the input, the advertising, it’s been beneficial for us.”

The nine-member pool board previously said they would dissolve the six-decade-old pool if new board members and volunteers weren’t found. They unanimously voted Sunday to keep it open.

The board last week held an emergency meeting to discuss the immediate needs and future of the pool. Discussion focused largely on the need for volunteers and new board members.

Vice President Christy Henry said the message resonated, and about 30 people signed up to help the pool.

“That is the biggest reaction to a call we have ever had,” Henry said. “They were all very committed.”

One person who volunteered his services was Matt Jagodrinski, 41, of West Leechburg. He said he would help the pool board with “anything they need.”

“Maintenance, chemicals, maybe a board position. I was thinking about that,” he said.

Jagodrinski grew going to the Gilpin-based pool and managed it for a few years when he was in college. He’s happy it’s going to stay open.

“I have two young boys. I don’t want to see it not be around for them,” he said. “We spend a lot of time there over the summer.”

The current board members in addition to Safranyos and Henry are Chad Krawczyk, Lisa Hamm, Dana Aul, Jenn Salsgiver, Chris Broda, Marcy Broda and Jason Oliver.

Voting to keep the pool open were Marcy Broda, Chris Broda, Aul, Salsgiver, Hamm, Safranyos and Henry. Krawczyk and Oliver were absent.

At least five board members plan to resign in November. They said they would train the new board members before they step down. The board members who plan to resign are Chris Broda, Marcy Broda, Aul, Safranyos and Henry.

The pool board didn’t receive any interest from people wanting to become new board members as of Sunday.

Officials are still looking for new board members, volunteers, lifeguards, managers, assistant managers and people who can help with technological, electric and plumbing work.

“We’re still down from where we need to be as far as help,” Safranyos said.