COVID-19

Dear Fellow Members,

As part of our continued commitment to provide transparency in regards to the Swimming Hole, we do have some news to share:

The Good News:

As part of Governor Cooper’s Executive Order surrounding Phase II Reopening plans, there was a specific clause allowing Indoor and Outdoor Pools to open with restrictions*. As such, we plan to open the Swimming Hole to members on Saturday, May 30th. This is the earliest we can open with adequate training, staffing, and overall preparation. The sign-up system information will be sent out early next week when you can begin booking your slots to enjoy the pool!

The Fine Print* :

We are currently working with officials and our management company to determine the maximum number of people we can accommodate. Per the Executive Order, we can operate at 50% capacity, but there are additional restrictions. These restrictions are around the number of people that can be in the water at a given time based off pool square footage. We are working with the state currently to better understand those guidelines and how they balance with public gathering limits.

The Next Steps:

Be on the lookout for our next communication coming next week. In that communication, we will distribute the link for the sign-up page, allowing you to begin booking your slots for the pool season. In addition, we will clearly lay out all of the safety precautions we will be implementing as part of the reopening. As always, you have our commitment that we will adjust as we learn more and gain feedback. The Phase II executive order runs until June 26th. At that point, we will evaluate our next steps to allow members to enjoy the pool while adhering to all safety guidelines.

Thank you for your continued patience and flexibility. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions or feedback. These are my first few weeks as pool president and I look forward to a) getting us through this period and b) talking with everyone in depth to understand how I can help make the Swimming Hole the best experience for you and your family.

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May 13, 2020

 

Dear Fellow Members,

 

First off, we hope all of you are doing well and continuing to stay safe.

 

We wanted to take a moment to bring all members up to speed with the current outlooks who for the 2020 Swimming Hole Season. As North Carolina enters the phased approach to re-opening, we have been in constant contact with our Pool Management company, who is working closely with the NC Board of Health to assist with the decision on when we can re-open. While the State has provided specific guidelines for retail establishments re-opening, details have been scarce surrounding community pools. 

 

With that said, we believe that the pool will have the ability to re-open in Phase II in a limited capacity. Efforts have begun to clean and prep the pool, restart maintenance on the surrounding grounds and even begin lifeguard training. Our goal, if everything aligns, would be to open shortly after the beginning of phase II.

 

While this is exciting news, we will need to modify our operating approach due to State guidelines for gathering limits and cleaning. We are currently thinking through options of how to provide the best possible experience for members, while at the same time abiding by State guidelines. The current thinking would be to implement an online sign-up portal allowing members to book a time slot at the pool, thus allowing us to maintain crowd levels and allow time for cleaning in between each time slot. We believe that with our limited membership and already having staff dedicated at the gate that we are better positioned than most pools to re-open with these existing controls.

 

We completely understand that this is not an ideal situation, but it does allow members to have dedicated time at the pool without us having to turn people away at the gate when crowds reach their limits. This approach also allows us to build time in between slots for the staff to clean “high touch” areas in and around the pool.  

 

The goal would be that with a little planning and patience, the pool can open and serve the community in an organized and safe fashion. As soon as the guidance shifts to allow larger public gatherings, we will adjust and continue to change until we can return to normal operations. We thank you in advance for your patience and flexibility as we determine the most efficient and safe approach to re-open the Swimming Hole!

 

We commit to continue to bring you more information as it becomes available. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

 

Thanks and see you soon!!

 

Matt

We hope all of you are doing well and staying healthy during this time of great uncertainty.

 

We wanted to take a moment and bring all members up to speed with the 2020 Swimming Hole season.  As we get closer to the season opening date of May 23rd, we have been in constant contact with our Pool Management company who is working closely with the NC Board of Health to assist with the decision on if/when we can open. This is not an easy decision as it requires carefully balancing the desire to open the pool with the safety of the members and staff who enjoy the pool every summer.

 

As such, we are considering three options for the summer season:

 

Option 1 | Opening On Time – The pool is scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend (May 23rd) and we need to work under the assumption that this opening date could still be a possibility.  As such, we have begun work to remove coverings, dewinterize systems, perform maintenance, train staff and schedule inspections.  All of these efforts are required to open the pool. We are still collecting dues with a due date of April 23rd.  

Option 2 | Delayed Opening – If the decision is made (by the Pool Board, Management Company, and Board of Health) that a partial pool season is possible, we will strongly consider this option.  Please rest assured, if a delayed opening occurs, we will work to provide members with partial refunds.  We are currently working with all of our vendors to reduce costs and pay for only services incurred to allow members refunds. With that said, there are still fixed costs involving utilities, insurance and maintenance that must be paid regardless if and when the pool opens in 2020.

Option 3 | 2020 Season Cancelled – If the decision is made (by the Pool Board, Management Company, and Board of Health) that public/private swimming pools can not open this season, we will have no choice but to cancel the 2020 Swimming Hole Season. If the season is cancelled, we will work to provide members partial refunds.  As stated above, we are currently working with all of our vendors to reduce costs and pay for only services incurred to allow members refunds. With that said, there are still fixed costs involving utilities, insurance and maintenance that must be paid regardless if and when the pool opens in 2020.

 

These are trying times, but with the cooperation and support of our members, we will make it through. Right now, communication and transparency remain our main commitment to you as we grow closer to the 2020 season. We commit to keeping  you informed as we progress and a decision is made.  Thank you for your continued patience and support.  We wish you continued safety and look forward to seeing you at the Swimming Hole as soon as possible.

 

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

 

Matt Santos

Matthew.S.Santos@gmail.com