Stevens Point closes public pool for the summer
By Taylor J. Hale
Staff Writer
STEVENS POINT –Stevens Point leaders have voted to keep the Donald Copps Municipal pool closed through the 2020 season.
The decision was made during the June 15 common council meeting, due to rising concern on the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Portage County.
Initial city finance and park committee plans saw the pool reopening on July 1 with social distancing and sanitization practices in place. Guards would wear water-approved masks, and deck furniture would have been removed to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Council members voted 9-1 to close the pool. District 11 Alder Shaun Morrow voted against closing the facilities.
District 5 Alder Meleesa Johnson made the motion to reject the reopening plans, and District 6 Alder Jeremy Slowinski seconded the motion.
“I don’t think for the month, month-and-a-half we are going to open it, it’s worth the risk,” Slowinski said. “I feel that we’re going to be in a better position if we just keep it close.”
Winterizing and maintaining the pool while closed will still cost the city roughly $41,000 for the year, according to leaders. Reopening and staffing the pool would cost the city approximately $104,820.