By Brenna R. Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

FLORENCE - When a record number of people swam at Florence's Aquatic Center on Monday, most of the lifeguards watching over them were from Eastern Europe.

This summer about 20 lifeguards from Bulgaria and Poland are working at the pool, a solution to a lifeguard shortage caused by more pools being built that require more lifeguards.

Though the local Red Cross is certifying more local lifeguards every year - 1,218 last year - its not enough to staff the growing number of pools, said Cindy Tiemann, aquatics coordinator for the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Red Cross.

"Communities aren't just putting in one 25 meter pool," she said.

"They have spray grounds, zero depth pools, wading pools, that means more guards."

The Florence Aquatic Center with its lazy river, slides, and other features requires 17 guards on duty.

Though two local lifeguards recently complained to Florence City Council that their work hours were being cut in favor of foreign guards, the pool's management company told council Tuesday that there are more than enough hours to go around.

"There is a lot of work available," said Gary Toner, president of Cincinnati Pool Management, which Florence has contracted to run the aquatic center. "We'll have to bring people from other pools to fill the shifts."

Each of the 85 guards at the pool had a choice of contracts, 60 hours a week, 40 hours a week or about 16 hours a week.

Most chose 16, Toner said. Also, most local lifeguards don't want to work holidays or Sundays.

For example, 21 of the 43 local guards said they couldn't work the week of July Fourth.

To combat the lifeguard shortage, the company, which hires 550 lifeguards a season for the 110 pools it manages, has partnered with the Council on International Education to bring in international guards.

Most of those workers chose the 60-hour a week option, he said. They can make enough money here in one summer to pay for three years of college at home, he said.

Florence's contract states that residents are given first chance at the jobs. There are 37 guards from Florence. Guards also can make more money by coming in at 7 a.m. to open and clean the pool, but none of the local guards have done that.

"We want these kids to have all the hours they want but unfortunately we need them to work the hours we need, not just the hours they want," said Mayor Diane Whalen. "Sometimes those things are in conflict when they have cheerleading practice, football, and family vacations and simply don't want to get up in the morning and give swim lessons."

Toner also said that neither of the two guards who complained to city council asked for more hours first. They have been offered more shifts.

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E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com