Pool opens with public health department’s approval

Swimmers rejoice — with recent temperatures pushing the century mark, the Honey Lake Valley Community Pool is now open.

Kevin Jones, interim administrative officer for the city of Susanville, said the pool is open and information about the hours of operation, program and fees will be posted on the city’s website by day’s end.

Jones said the pool’s opening is in compliance with a recommendation from the Lassen County Public Health Department.

“We went off the department of public health’s recommendation,” Jones said. “We were fully prepared not to open, but the recommendation from public health was to open.”

Despite that recommendation, Jones said the public health department issued some guidelines regarding the pool’s operation.

For example, Jones, who also serves as the administrative officer for the Honey Lake Valley Recreation Authority, the agency that manages and operates the pool under a joint powers agreement between the city of Susanville and Lassen County, said the pool has a capacity of 240 swimmers, but now that number has been reduced to 80 swimmers in the pool at one time.

And he said masks are required for those who are waiting to go into the pool and those come out of the pool who are not social distancing.

“Everything is sanitized after each group is in the pool,” Jones said.

The authority board of directors discussed opening the pool during a special meeting held in the Susanville City Council Chambers Monday, June 29.

For more information, call the pool 251-0235.