Parks director says staffing losses have stretched Rock Springs Civic Center programs

JJ Seathrúd, director of parks and recreation, said staffing losses have forced a broader set of duties for employees at the Civic Center, stretching the department’s capacity while widening staff skills.

"We've endured staffing losses that have changed how our staff work," Seathrúd said, describing how a single employee may move between front desk duties, pool lifeguarding and outdoor-program work on the same day.

Seathrúd said he began his career in the building’s recreation division and took over operations in 2012 before later becoming director. He described the shift in recent years as both a challenge and an opportunity: staff are "pulled in a lot of directions" but have gained broader skills, he said.

He credited Ariel Klein, the Civic Center recreation supervisor, with getting "as much out of her staff as possible," saying Klein has assembled "a lot of good crew" and that the department is "real happy with the work she's doing." The remarks highlighted informal management steps taken to cover programs amid limited personnel rather than any formal hiring or policy decision.

No formal proposals, motions or funding amounts were discussed in this segment. The conversation focused on operational experience and local staff management; details such as exact staffing counts, budget lines or hiring timelines were not specified.