City beaches going unguarded?
That's the trend in Washington County, further confirmed recently when Oakdale became the latest city to eliminate its summer lifeguards.
"It's just another cost control measure," said City Administrator Craig Waldron, who added that police and fire departments are close to the Tanners Lake beach and an emergency phone will be available for swimmers. "In terms of liability and safety it appears it doesn't make much difference. We can be there in a matter of minutes."
A much different viewpoint comes from Oakdale resident Pam Reilly, who takes as many as 10 children from her day care business to the beach on hot summer days.
"I just shudder to think what's going to happen if we go there this year and there aren't any lifeguards," Reilly said.
Lifeguards are symbols of authority who helped control offensive behavior, she said, including intervening in a couple of instances she witnessed when people were having sex in the water. Some teenage girls have gone topless, anglers cast lines inside the swimming boundaries, boats maneuver too close to children, and profane language from gatherings of youth nearby scares away families, she said.
"It's just heart-wrenching to me," said Reilly, who said the city, instead of firing lifeguards, should have assessed an annual park fee to pay their salaries.
Still, Oakdale's action follows a trend by cities across the metro from Forest Lake to Prior Lake. Forest Lake hasn't had lifeguards at its city beach since 2004. Woodbury eliminated lifeguards at Carver Lake Beach in 2009. Washington County has two smaller unguarded beaches on the St. Croix River, but hires lifeguards for three large, busy beaches at Lake Elmo, Big Marine and Square Lake parks.