Northwest Iowa — Northwest Iowa kids — and adults — especially those who attended a recent Rock Rapids City Council Meeting — will be happy to hear that the governor has decided to re-open swimming pools.
At a COVID-19 press conference on Wednesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions, including some of those applicable to swimming pools.
(as said:) “Effective Friday, June 12th at 8 a.m., the 50% capacity limit currently in place for businesses will be lifted while retaining the requirements of six-feet social distancing for certain businesses, like restaurants, bars, and theaters. Eliminating the capacity restrictions will allow businesses the flexibility to adjust their specific operations accordingly to best meet the needs of their employees and customers. Establishments shall implement reasonable measures to ensure social distancing, increase hygiene practices, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with the guidance that’s been provided by the Department of Public Health. Swimming pools may open under the same guidelines and senior centers at adult day care programs may also open if they comply with specific guidance being issued by the Department of Public Health.”
She tells us why she thinks it’s time to make these changes.
(as said:) “These changes are a result of the positive forward momentum that we’re generating in Iowa and we must keep it going. So we know that COVID-19 will remain in our communities for a while. But we also know what we can do to effectively mitigate and manage and contain it while we safely and responsibly move forward with life. It remains just as important now as it did three months ago that every Iowan continue to do their part to protect the health and the health of their health and the health of others, especially those who are most vulnerable.”
Lyon County Public Health Administrator Melissa Stillson says that the new proclamation goes into effect Friday morning at 8 a.m. — and runs through June 25th. She says that means that the pools are not necessarily open for the rest of the season. She says if the numbers continue to indicate that what they are currently doing is working, chances are they’ll be able to stay open. But for right now, it’s just for this two-week period.
Before a recent Rock Rapids City Council meeting, councilman Cody Hoefert encouraged citizens to come to the meeting if they had an opinion about the opening of the city’s swimming pool. About 30 citizens attended, and many expressed their concerns. All of the people who spoke up were in favor of opening the pool. But since, at that time, it would be going against state guidelines, Stillson wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Those sentiments were echoed by City Attorney Jen Wippert.
The concerns of the citizens included those that would come up in such a discussion, such as the recent hot weather, and there not being much to do in a small town in the summertime. But some people had a more serious concern — that kids had been swimming unsupervised in the Rock River in Island Park. Residents had both health and safety concerns about swimming in the river, and they stated that even with the COVID-19 risk, it would be safer to open the pool.
Councilman Hofert encouraged those with concerns to contact a certain individual in the governor’s office to see if she might remove some of the restrictions and allow the pool to open. And that’s just what the governor did, effective on Friday — and at least for the next two weeks.
According to Rock Rapids City Administrator Jordan Kordahl, the Rock Rapids Municipal Swimming Pool is booked up with lessons on Friday, but will open to the public on Saturday.
Other area pools are also reopening — with restrictions. The Sheldon Family Aquatic Center will open on Saturday at 1 p.m., Sioux Center’s Siouxnami Water Park will open at noon on Friday. If you have questions, you can call your pool or city office.
From Sheldon Public Works Director Todd Uhl:
The Iowa Department of Public Health should be offering more guidance soon. The plan for now is to open Saturday at 1pm with normal operating hours and continue from there. We will take temperatures of patrons at the front desk. Anyone with a temperature over 100.4 will be turned away. We will not put out deck chairs but people will be allowed to bring their own. Concessions will not be open. People may bring their own water to drink. No food will be allowed. Memberships, punch cards and day passes will be sold at regular pricing. Registration for group swimming lessons of up to 3 kids per level will open this week with classes starting on June 22. Please understand that this is our plan as of now and it is subject to change as we learn more. The reason for opening Saturday instead of Friday is we already have private lessons scheduled all day on Friday and we need some time to organize staff to work.
