BUDGET, POOL RATES APPROVED — On Monday, Toronto Council approved the city’s budget for the current year and costs for admission and shelter rentals at the local swimming pool. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — The city’s budget for the current year was approved on Monday by Toronto Council, which also discussed issues involving both summer and winter.

The $21.9 million budget underwent a first reading, with two others to follow before it must be submitted to the county auditor’s office on April 1.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey, who chairs council’s finance committee, noted it was developed following two meetings involving City Auditor Kayla Whitlatch and various city officials and department heads.

Burkey said requests from two senior citizen groups that meet at the Karaffa Recreation Center and the Toronto Historical Society, which operates a museum there, will be considered by council before the final reading.

Each group has asked for $1,000, the cap that council has placed on such allocations.

The budget includes about $24,017 in capital improvement projects, including the next phase in water line replacements in the Myers Street area, which is funded partly with grants.

It also reflects raises approved in recent months for the city’s 10 police officers and a handful of paid firefighters who are supplemented by volunteers.

Three-year contracts for the two groups include a $1.25 per hour raise for each year.

A total of $233,050 was budgeted for recreational facilities and related expenses.

City Services Director Linda Burkey said the city’s swimming pool is slated for a new heat pump, diving board and patio furniture this year.

In related buiness, council accepted prices for admission and shelter fees at the pool, as recommended by the joint recreation board comprised of representatives of council and the Toronto school board.

Daily admission will be $4 for senior citizens 62 and older, $6 for other adults and $4 for students under 18, which children 5 and under admitted free.

Season passes will be $75 for students under 18, $60 for senior citizens who are residents, $100 for non-resident senior citizens, $100 for a resident senior couple’s pass, $165 for a non-resident senior couple’s pass,

$125 for other adult residents, and $150 for other adult non-residents.

Season passes also are available for families with the cost depending on the number of family members. A pass for a Toronto family of four costs $170, while the cost for a family of four from outside the city costs $220.

Shelter fees will be $275 for the shelter house and $215 for pavilion 1 or 2.

Private pool parties also may be booked for $300 for those with 50 or fewer people, $350 for those with more than 75 people, and $400 for those with more than 100 people.

Burkey said a Memorial Day weekend again is anticipated, with the pool’s hours to return to 10 a.m. to noon for adult swimming only and noon to 7 p.m. for all ages, with 7 p.m.to 9 p.m. reserved for private parties.

Second Ward Councilman Steve Sninchak asked about the shelters’ use.

Burkey said 51 pool parties were booked while the pool was open 110 days.

It was noted that while the last two hours of each day have been reserved for private parties, requests were granted to groups wanting to reserve the shelters during the afternoon and because they were charged the rate for private parties, their guests weren’t charged admission to the pool.

Burkey confirmed applications for lifeguards and other pool staff will be circulated at Toronto, Steubenville and Edison high schools.

Third Ward Councilman Troy Stewart, who represents council on the recreation board, said Kim Kelley, the pool’s new director, introduced herself at the panel’s most recent meeting.

He also announced the Toronto Junior Baseball League has registered 127 youth for its upcoming season, which will begin on April 11.

In related business, Mayor John Parker said a structure for the new batting cage at the city’s ball field has arrived and will be assembled in the near future.

The addition is being funded by a $20,000 grant from the Charles and Thelma Pugliese Foundation.

Parker also announced the city’s Easter egg hunt will be held April 4 at Toronto War Memorial Park.

Burkey noted city crews have been cold patching holes in local streets, and Parker was asked the status of the city’s salt supply.

The mayor said this year’s heavy snowfall has reduced it to 40 to 50 tons. He said while he ordered another 180 tons, only about 22 has arrived because of a shortage affecting many communities.

Parker said other vendors are reserving their salt for existing customers, leaving the city and others waiting and hoping for more before the winter’s end.

“We’re in the same boat from Cleveland on down,” he said.

Parker said there has been talk among area officials of forming a consortium that collectively could purchase salt in bulk.

In other business:

• City Fire Chief Ryan Boyd announced tickets are still available for a steak fry fundraiser to be held by the Toronto Fire Department at its Knoxville station on Saturday.

Tickets for the event, which will include music by Dustin Van Fossen and Colin McCoy, are $40 each and may be purchased no later than Wednesday by calling the fire station at (740) 537-5011.

• It was announced at its March 10 meeting, the city’s planning and zoning commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed addition of storage buildings to the marina property on North River Avenue.

Council’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 9.