Wausau pools in limbo, Weston Aquatic Center plans to open amid COVID-19 pandemic

Wausau Daily Herald

WAUSAU - Residents in the Wausau area could have fewer options available for swimming this summer as city leaders balance safety and providing summer fun options amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee on Thursday, voted against recommending the Common Council open two of the city’s three pools on July 1. That comes after the city's Parks and Recreation Committee voted Monday in favor of the pool openings.

The decision now moves to the Common Council, which will meet on Tuesday.

Public Health and Safety Committee Chairperson Lisa Rasmussen said during Thursday’s meeting that she had heard from some people in her district regarding the pools' re-opening, but she wanted to take the weekend to get a wider sample of opinions.

"If I had to go with what I have today it would be a 'no,'" Rasmussen said. "I'm undecided for Tuesday night."

Wausau has public pools at its Kaiser, Schulenburg and Memorial locations. Jamie Polley, director of the Wausau and Marathon County Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, told the Daily Herald Wednesday that the safety measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the pools would vary based on which locations were to open.

Polley said that if pools open, those safety measures will be based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. That means social distancing requirements would be in place, swimming lessons would be suspended, and limits would be placed on the number of people who can be in the pool.

At Thursday’s meeting, some committee members expressed concerns about whether pool visitors would comply with social distancing requirements.

Polley told the committee that was among her concerns as well.

"I think the people that will come to the pool ... a majority are your citizens who don't think social distancing is required, and the people that are nervous about it aren't going to come," Polley said.

Rasmussen said pool staff would have the authority to close the pool at any time if there were issues with rule compliance.

Weston Aquatic Center is expected to open this summer, but an opening date has not yet been set.

The nearby Weston Aquatic Center is expected to open this summer, Weston Village Administrator Keith Donner told the Daily Herald Wednesday, but the village has not yet set an opening date. Donner said the aquatic center would likely open by the end of June.

Donner said the uncertainty over the date is due to logistical concerns created by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that among other things, the pool has yet to hire lifeguards.

Donner said the city would take measures including reducing the pool’s capacity to 200 people from its usual 600. Donner said this would allow for social distancing of about 9 feet for visitors, above the 6 feet recommended by the CDC.

In addition, all pool visitors will have to register before arriving at the pool.

The Rothschild Village Board announced in mid-May that it would not open the Rothschild/Schofield Aquatic Center this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.