OUTDOOR RECREATION
‘We need that pool open and some sort of normalcy’ BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media
The Polo Pool was packed last summer when temperatures climbed to 90 degrees. People from the surrounding towns around Polo said they come to the pool because there are no other outside swimming pools in the area. plete the project. Loomis said that at its peak on a hot day, about 210-220 people visit the pool during a single session. The new limits mean the pool can only operate at about 20 percent of its max capacity. Usually the pool opens around Memorial Day. The board hopes to be leave it open through Labor Day weekend this year. “It’ll be a fraction,” Loomis said. “Last year [the pool] generated over $30,000. This year, if we get 20 percent of that we’ll consider it a suc-
cess.” The board talked about possibly doing different sessions to eliminate issues like lines, but decided on a first-come, first-serve approach. Swim lessons and water aerobics will still be offered. Some parties are already scheduled. “We hope local people can get in, but we know a lot of it will be people from out of town,” Loomis said. The pool is all filled and ready to go. That was going to happen regardless due to the upkeep costs that would have come with the pool
sitting empty and not running for two years and deteriorating. “It was grim,” Loomis said of the outlook on opening the pool in recent months. “I talked with area park districts that also have pools. If we couldn’t open, our pool maintenance guy said we’d still have to fill the pool and run it to save from maintenance costs. That’s when we decided to fill it.” Loomis also said Polo’s parks will be open on June 26 as well, in accordance with state guidelines.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Electronic recycling returns to Oregon on Friday, June 26 The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will accept electronics for recycling on Friday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the County Annex Building, 909 Pines Road in Oregon. People dropping off items must stay in their vehicles with the windows closed. They must show proof of Ogle County residency, such as a drivers’ license, voter registration card, or recent utility bill, through the window. Electronic items must be easy for
staff to remove and clear of original packaging. The limit is seven bulky item limit per vehicle; a box or tub loaded with smaller items is considered one bulky item. Disposing of microwave ovens will cost $5 each, and payments for the exact amount, cash or check, must be taped to the outside of the vehicle window before going through the line. Make checks payable to Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department. Do not bring items from people
who have tested positive for COVID19. Acceptable are TVs, electronic hardware, video gaming systems, VCR-DVD players, cable and satellite boxes, radios, stereo equipment (no wooden speakers), digital clocks, holiday light strands, extension cords, phone systems, calculators, shredders, rechargeable batteries, CFL bulbs, and printer ink cartridges. Not acceptable are smoke detectors, household appliances, vacu-
um cleaners, fans, heaters, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, lamps, power tools, alkaline batteries, LED bulbs, exercise equipment, any kind of medical equipment, toys or drones, business or institutional electronic items, and packaging from electronic items such as boxes, plastic wrapping, and Styrofoam. Call the department at 815-7324020, go to oglecounty.org or find Ogle County Solid Waste Management Dept. on Facebook for more information.
• Friday, June 26, 2020
Patrons of the Polo Pool can get back in the swim of things this Saturday, well at least 45 of them. The popular outdoor swimming pool will open with a limit of 45 patrons and 5 staff members in accordance with the state’s reopening Phase 4 plan that kicks off June 26. The Polo Park Board made the decision to open the pool at its June 17 meeting. Board Chairman Larry Loomis said park representatives have talked repeatedly with the Ogle County Health Department and the state about guidelines related to opening. He and the board are happy to get the attraction back in town. “It means a lot,” Loomis said. “The psychological impacts, we need that. There’s no softball or baseball or any of the other events in town. We need that pool open and some sort of normalcy.” There will be no summer passes offered because of the abbreviated season. There will be not be a concession building although some beverages and snacks might be offered at the check in counter pending state regulations. The concession stand was closed by the OCHD last year and a new one still is still in the fundraising process. About $18,750 has been raised for the new concession stand with $30,000-$35,000 needed to com-
OGLE COUNTY NEWS | Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com
Polo pool to open June 27 with limit of 45 people
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