ROCK SPRINGS – For the month of May, the Rock Springs Family Recreation Center will close at 8 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. The Rock Spring City Council unanimously approved a request from the Recreation Board adding an extra hour of operation at the center.

The hour change will just be at the rec center and will extend the hours from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. during the weekdays. It will be on a trial basis from May 4 to June 4 to see if it is cost effective.

Several years ago, the city council made the difficult decision to cut hours at the recreation centers due to budget constraints. Councilman Rob Zotti brought this up at the meeting. He questioned what the additional cost would be and what the bench mark would be to consider making it more permanent.

Park and Recreation Director Dave Lansang explained Rec Board Chairman Ron Cheese has brought this forward and has talked it about it for a couple of years. Cheese goes to the center and has told his fellow board members there are approximately a couple dozen people who are in the weight room at closing time. While Lansang said the board has really not discussed an exact number they would like to see to make it permanent, the thought would be this many people would probably justify the decision.

As for cost, Lansang said they have about three or four part-time employees who usually close the center and the extra hour would add an addtional $50 a day for salaries. He said once you do the numbers, the cost for the trial period would be approximately $1,000 for the month.

After the trial period, the Recreation Department will look at the numbers and another decision will be made. If it is decided to add the hour, the change would be for the rest of summer month hours and would change along with the rest of the times when they make the move back to winter hours.