Patronage levels of the Nangwarry pool have been queried by a local ward representative.
Councillor Dale Price has suggested a shorter swimming season may be considered after there were 37 days last summer when there were 10 swimmers or less.
The Sorby Adams Ward representative made the observation during a recent special council meeting in Millicent.
It was called to adopt the 2023/24 annual report and to award three unrelated tenders.
Cr Price said there were three days when the Nangwarry pool had more than 80 swimmers.
He asked staff if these days coincided with school swimming carnivals and they were not certain.
The Nangwarry pool queries was one of several financial queries posed by Cr Price.
With respect to council legal fees, deputy chief executive Paul Duka said this figure had dropped from $192,000 to $171,000 year on year.
Cr Price said the council’s operating deficit had grown in the past 12 months and Mr Duka said this could be largely attributed to the timing of Federal Government grants.
“We have taken a hit in the book value of our assists due to the demolition of the former Millicent Netball Association clubrooms and some buildings at Greenrise at Penola as well as the sale of the former Millicent Italian Social Club,” Mr Duka said.
The council report included the 2023/24 annual report of the Limestone Coast Local Government Association and this prompted finance-related questions.
Cr John Shelton queried the data about the average ages of council staff and chief executive Ben Gower said he would follow this up.
Overall, councillors and senior staff were pleased with the 2023/24 annual report.
Cr John Drew said he was surprised at how much had been done by the council in the past 12 months.
“It justifies the hard decisions we have made,” Cr Drew said.
Mr Duka thanked administration manager Megan Tilley for coordinating the production of the annual report.
“There has been a magnificent amount of work done across the whole organisation and there have been some fantastic achievements,” he said.
Cr Sharon Cox said the report was “well done” and the graphics were easy to read.
After 20 minutes of debate, the annual report was endorsed.
Council then moved into closed session for a further 40 minutes to discuss three unrelated tenders.
