ROCK SPRINGS – Have your neighbors ever been blaring those party tunes too loud? How about sitting in a restaurant when a certain table is getting a little too rowdy? After some complaints about noise levels in the gymnasiums at the Rock Springs Family Recreation Center were raised, the department has taken steps to monitor this situation.

Many different activities can be taking place at once in the rec center gym on a given day. Director Dave Lansang explained Zumba could be using one gym, basketball going on in the second and gymnastics in the third, while you constantly have walkers and joggers using the track above all the action.

He explained after issues about the noise had been raised, the department  purchased visual decibel meters. These meters will respond when the maximum safety hearing levels are reached. These meters were installed the last couple of weeks.

“We are working to get those levels down,” Lansang said.

Another feature of these monitors which Lansang and the building managers like is the fact they can pull a week’s history from the meters.  Lansang explained if there is an issue the managers can look at the specific day and if there is a problem can talk to the group where the problem arouse.

Board member Stevi Madsen made it clear she was not against Zumba whatsoever, but everybody has to use the area together.

“You got all the people using the area,” Madsen said. “At times it’s out of control.”

Lansang told the board and Madsen the building managers are in favor of them. He said RSFRC Superintendent Mike Evans is in favor of the monitors. He said that Evans has had many complaints and has heard issues for some time and this can help.

Madsen was also pleased.

“It’s nice to have a way it can be regulated and it’s just not one person’s opinion,” she said.

Wee Care

The board discussed whether the number of children at the Wee Care Day Center justified staying open over the summer. Currently they drop to three days a week over the summer,  although Lansang said they have moved to winter hours and back to five days a week for the daycare.

The board was also surprised on the number of children who attended the daycare this summer.

Chairman Ron Cheese said he was pleasantly surprised by the numbers. The entire board agreed. Many saying they did not think they would see the numbers actually sustaining themselves. Madsen said she was surprised the numbers did not drop off.

As the discussion continued about the summer hours of the daycare, it was proposed that a higher charge for the daycare service may be necessary. Board member Lynne Demshar said they want patrons who use it to be able to afford to and higher prices would defeat the purpose.

Lansang said the board has the entire winter to think about all that has been presented before deciding what they will do next summer. The entire board was unified saying it provides a great service to the community.

Park Swings

The board also received a letter from Allison Folks about the lack of swings. She said that more need to be added.

Lansang said swings are a projectile and staff have to take into account the space a swing needs for safety reasons. He said the few they have are usually on the other side of the park by themselves for that reason.

Madsen mentioned a point Folks made in the letter about swings being the only playground equipment which parents and grandparents can really play with their children and grandchildren on. Swings also provide fun for the older children such as high school age students.

Lansang said the letter is going to be turned over the Park Supervisor Mark Lyon to investigate the issue.