187 jobs cut in city of Moraine and Splash Moraine to close

Splash Moraine was a cool destination for many in this Monday, May 25, 2009 file photo. The city of Moraine announced it will cut jobs and suspend operations of the water park. It will open again if economy turns around.

Staff photo by E.L. Hubbard Splash Moraine was a cool destination for many in this Monday, May 25, 2009 file photo. The city of Moraine announced it will cut jobs and suspend operations of the water park. It will open again if economy turns around.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Splash Moraine water park

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Jaice Hickerson, 5, and Jo Bower, of Washington Township, zoom down a water slide at Splash Moraine in this Monday, May 25, 2009 file photo. Facing a mounting $5.5 million deficit for 2010, the city of Moraine announced it will cut 187 jobs and suspend operations of the water park.

Staff photo by E.L. Hubbard Jaice Hickerson, 5, and Jo Bower, of Washington Township, zoom down a water slide at Splash Moraine in this Monday, May 25, 2009 file photo. Facing a mounting $5.5 million deficit for 2010, the city of Moraine announced it will cut 187 jobs and suspend operations of the water park.

Popular recreation park will open if economy turns around

By Kristin McAllister, Staff Writer Updated 1:13 PM Saturday, October 10, 2009

MORAINE — Still reeling from the loss of the General Motors plant and several of the automotive giant’s ancillary businesses, this city is heading into 2010 staring down a $5.5 million deficit, forcing it to cut 187 jobs and suspend its Splash Moraine operations.

The Moraine City Council on Thursday, Oct. 8, approved a plan that eliminates 28 full-time, 30 part-time and all 129 seasonal Splash Moraine positions, leaving the city with 251 employees.

Several positions already were vacant, resulting in the actual layoff of 12 full-time and two part-time employees, City Manager David Hicks said Friday, Oct. 9.

The layoffs, water park closing and cost reductions are expected to save the city about $1.5 million.

“We are working to insulate the citizens as much as possible,” he said. “Closing the administrative offices for four hours a month is a change, and we will likely extend the furlough hours during 2010.”

And while a handful of public safety and fire positions have been eliminated, only one police cadet has been laid off, Hicks said.

City officials built Splash Moraine in 1999 and opened it in 2000 with the idea of it being a destination location, he said. The $3.7 million water park, which has no debt and was open 100 days a year, annually drew an average 68,000 visitors from throughout Ohio, with only 15 percent being Moraine residents. It’s highest annual attendance was about 98,000.

Hicks said the city’s general fund revenue is now down to between $11 million and $12 million. After expenses and revenue, he said Splash Moraine operated at a annual deficit of about $400,000 in recent years.

“The GM closing had very little direct impact on the water park, but the impact on revenue of the plant and its supporting companies, well that’s a loss of around 22 percent in general revenue. That’s what’s made things really tough.”

Whether the park reopens will be dictated by the economy, Hicks said, but it likely will not operate on the scale it previously has.

“I’m just saddened by it,” said City Councilman Jack Sexton. “I hate to see anyone lose their jobs.”

All departments have been affected by the layoffs, Hicks said.

“We do have a reduced force in the police and fire departments, but not to where we’re putting citizens at risk,” he said. “We’ve been freezing positions and as positions became vacant, we removed them” from the city’s organizational chart.

To help cut costs, city administrative and non-union staff already take four hours of unpaid furlough each month, which will continue in 2010.

All employees also accepted reductions in health benefits or pay reductions in 2008 and 2009, and city officials voted to forgo all out-of-state travel this year and next.

Hicks said it was difficult breaking the news of layoffs.

“Some of these folks have been here a long time,” he said.

Sexton said he also is concerned about families who enjoyed going to Splash Moraine, which operated each year in late May through early September.

General admission seasonal passes for a family of four was $200, $125 for a family living in the city.

“I know a lot of kids loved going there and that it meant a lot to them,” he said, noting the eventual goal is to resume the park’s operations. “That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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