(Des Moines, IA) -- Last summer's lifeguard shortages are over.
Many cities in Iowa, including Des Moines, Ames, Clive, and Altoona started looking for summer lifeguards and pool staff months ahead of this time last year... and are paying more.
Des Moines Aquatics Director Ben Page says changes to how they went about recruiting staff this year, includes new higher wages and incentives.
He says they now have enough staff to open all five of their pools, all summer camps, and all of the other seasonal positions they have.
"We're ready for them. We hired 300 people, we were out all winter trying to recruit the different staff we needed," said Page.
Last summer lifeguard shortages forced some cities to rotate staff and close pools several days a week as well.
This will be the first summer since the pandemic that all Des Moines metro area swimming pools will be fully staffed.
In Des Moines, only Nahas will be open Memorial Day weekend, the other pools will open after school lets out June 3.