BAY MINETTE – It will cost more to swim in Bay Minette this summer, just not as much as it did last week.

Responding to citizen complaints about the daily fee at the municipal pool doubling, the Mayor and City Council agreed to lower the fee from $10 to $7 per day. For the previous six year, the daily use fee had been $5.

“I’ve gotten a number of complaints about the pool increase,” said councilman Chris Norman. “When we purchased the private pool, there was an understanding this was a way to offer recreation at lower costs (to the citizens).”

Most council members said they had been getting calls and complaints since the new prices started when the pool opened May 25. Councilwoman Dollie Mims noted that the city pools at Fairhope, Foley and Robertsdale still charge $5 a day.

“It’s cheaper to put gas in the car and carry a load of kids to Robertsdale (to swim since the Bay Minette price doubled),” said Mims.

The increased single day fee did prompt many families to purchase memberships. They already have double the number of memberships compared to 2012.

“For $250, a family can swim every day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Sundays 1-6 p.m.) from May 25 until Labor Day,” said pool manager Janet Caraway. “For the price, you’re getting a good deal.”

The family membership went up $25 from last year. People outside the Bay Minette Zip Code are charged $275 for a family membership.

“We’ve cot a lot of families under the poverty level,” said Norman. “They see that ($250 figure) and say they can’t raise that kind of money all at once.”

Mims suggested the city might look into a plan for families next spring to allow them to purchase memberships but pay through installments. Norman wants to see a cost analysis of the pool to take a “look at the figures and come up with a plan” for next year.

The council and mayor directed Caraway to lower the prices to $7, effective June 4.