HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-18-2020 Public Comment - J. Sivan - SCUBA Small Business in need of your helpFrom:Jeff silvan
To:Agenda
Subject:Small Business in need of your help
Date:Thursday, June 18, 2020 9:10:39 AM
Bozeman City Mayor and Commissioners,
I am writing to express my deep concern that the city is not helping small businesses in Bozeman that are
impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, the recreation department is not working with Sports
Cove SCUBA to provide rented hours to this business. Sports Cove SCUBA has been in business, in
Bozeman, for 30 years. Steve Lantz (owner) used to be a life guard for the swim center, coached the
Bozeman Barracuda swim team, and has taught thousands of Bozeman residents to SCUBA dive. Steve
also volunteers his time training the Gallatin County Search and Rescue Dive team. He lets the Search
and Rescue dive team practice their skills when he rents the pool, and does not charge the county or city
anything for that
Not only am I one of the members that is on the Gallatin County SAR Dive team, I am alsoone of the Instructors at the Sports Cove. Steve Lantz and Sports Cove really need your help in
this matter. He worked with the city staff to ensure that his programs were always safe, and that any
incidents were handled properly. Injuries that may occur while SCUBA training (although none have
happened in Bozeman pools) would be pressure-related injuries; therefore, the city lifeguards are not
trained for handling these types of injuries. Only the SCUBA Instructors can attend to those. In times past,
because of Steve’s LONG history with the facility and a written contract, Steve could rent the facility
without Lifeguard staff being present. Just like you would rent Story Mansion without Recreation staff
being present the whole time. In recent times this policy has changed, and Steve flexed and changed with
it. BUT, now with the pandemic and the city being understaffed, the CITY does not seem to be willing to
be flexible and let Steve rent the pool with out there being guards present (even though this was a
practice for 20 years). I am very concerned that the city, if not flexible with its policies during this time, will
ruin a Bozeman business. Be flexible with the policies at least until you can get staffed properly and offer
normal hours again. Please consider working WITH a 30 year business, be flexible and save a business.
Steve has clients that have completed everything they need to to get in the pool, and Steve being an
upstanding Bozeman business person will not charge them until he knows he can complete their training
(i.e., have pool hours). Please save a business that has been in Bozeman for 30 years, it just takes
flexibility on your part. Not only would we be losing a Great business in Bozeman, but if Sports
Cove is forced to close, Gallatin County will be losing a very valuable resource on the theSearch and Rescue side of it all, as it pertains to the Gallatin Valley Tactical Dive Team, (our
search and rescue Dive team). Without the Sports Cove, we will be unable to continue gettingcontinued course training for our divers, and would be unable to bring in new divers to keep
the team strong and successful in what we do. Not to mention the specialized gear that weneed, we wouldn't have access to getting
.Again, Thank you for your time. Please help a Local Business out and be flexible and willing
to work with the Sports Cove, at least until the City pool can get fully staffed once again.
Jeff SilvanSports Cove Instructor
Member of Gallatin Valley Tactical Dive Team406-580-6507