Commission approves one‑year management contract with H2 Marketing for Burkburnett Family Aquatic Center

The Burkburnett Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to enter a one‑year full management agreement with H2 Marketing LLC to operate the Burkburnett Family Aquatic Center, citing ongoing staffing and recruitment challenges that staff said jeopardized the facility’s ability to open and operate safely.

Staff presented two options: a consultant agreement that would keep operations in‑house but require city staff to manage hiring and daily operations, and a full management option in which the contractor assumes responsibility for staffing, training, daily operations and marketing. Staff recommended the full management option as the more reliable path, given the timing of the upcoming season.

City staff described the base cost of the agreement as approximately $7,000 per month (about $84,000 annually) in addition to operating expenses the city already funds. The contract includes a 10% performance‑based incentive tied to improving the facility’s financial performance and an initial one‑year term with standard termination provisions including for cause and non‑appropriation. Staff emphasized that the city will retain control over setting rates and fees and budget oversight.

Steve Vaughn, identified in the materials as affiliated with Castaway Cove and H2 Marketing, told commissioners he would serve as general manager, have a supervisor onsite daily, provide required reporting and work with the health department to get the concession stand and operations into compliance. "I will serve as general manager. I will have a supervisor at the pool all the time, and I will...get y'all the reports that you need," Vaughn said.

Commissioners pressed staff on recruiting efforts and on the projected costs to bring a concession stand online. Staff estimated concession storefront and equipment costs at roughly $25,000–$30,000 and noted a $50,000 capital improvement bond account that could be used. Staff also estimated that refurbishing a pool pump could cost about $1,000–$1,500 versus $3,000–$5,000 for a replacement.

Some commissioners said they felt constrained by the lack of other feasible options but supported the one‑year contract as a trial period. A motion to approve the full management agreement passed unanimously.

The contract requires the contractor to honor discounts for city residents and city employees; staff said the precise membership or complimentary‑access rules (for example, two complimentary memberships per employee) were still under discussion and would be finalized with city management.