Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the city of Hudson's Oakdale Lake, which typically opens around Memorial Day, opened late this year, on July 4. That was because until the city's Common Council took action on a $46,500 budget amendment June 27, the funds needed to have lifeguards on duty seven days a week from noon until 6 p.m., did not exist. “We had to wait [and] make sure we had [the] money to pay lifeguards...outside the hours of our summer camp,” said Youth Department Director Nick Zachos, who oversees the Oakdale facilities. In addition to the $9,000 for lifeguards, the amendment will also allow the youth department to make facility upgrades, including new fire alarm and heating systems and funding for summer programs. There were about 75 visitors to the beach the first day it was open, Zachos said. Most of the visitors walk and many take taxis to the beach, he said. The beach is open through the end of August. Swimming is allowed only when a lifeguard is on duty, from noon to 6 p.m., every day. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.