Summer Rec & Swimming Pool 2020
The Council met Monday night with Summer Rec Directory, Jill Dale attending and a letter from Dr. Al Ross with recommendations on the Ortonville Swimming Pool.
Summer Rec, Due to COVID-19, the Ortonville City Council has made the tough decision of canceling the Summer Rec program this summer; however, Director Jill Dale is working on an activity kit and summer challenges and activities to help keep kids active. Watch for updates – coming soon!
The Swiming Pool. The Council received a letter recommendation from Dr. Al Ross and took action on Monday night to not open the swimming pool this year. See the letter below:
Dear Mayor Hausauer:
I have been asked to give an opinion regarding the opening of the city pool this year. We currently are under a stay at home order by Governor Walz until May 17. Current COVID-19 prediction models vary but Minnesota’s peak is predicted to be from late May to mid/late June. Unfortunately COVID-19 is not going away soon. Beyond the next month, it will continue to be recommended that we socially distance ourselves and likely it will be recommended that we wear cloth masks to reduce the spread of the virus. Because of this, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board on April 3 made the decision to close all pools and beaches for the summer. Many other cities have made similar decisions. Ortonville isn’t like Minneapolis, but COVID-19 doesn’t care where you live and having a pool full of people presents several problems. It is true that if a pool has the normal amount of chlorine this will kill the virus. The problem arises from the other people within the pool. Sneezing, coughing, sputtering all of which normally happens at a pool poses risk of infection to other people. Also heavy breathing after activity is a concern of potentially aerosolizing the virus and makes it even more infectious since it could linger in the air for up to 30 minutes. Lastly, there is research that the virus can possibly live up to 72 hours on hard surfaces. This would require all surfaces of the pool, i.e. chairs, handles, restrooms, doors and handrails to be disinfected at regular intervals. Unfortunately, it is my medical opinion that Ortonville Pool remained closed for the 2020 season.
Allan Ross, M.D.