Update on Opening (June 12, 2020)

This week, County Executive Marc Elrich announced that Montgomery County could enter phase two of its reopening process next week. While no specific date was given for this move, the county indicated that when phase two goes into effect, pools will be able to open for lap swimming only. Lap lanes will be limited to one person per lane. Outdoor swimming pools will be able to open more generally, but with (unspecified) restrictions, in phase three.

County officials have given no indication for when phase three will begin.

We know temperatures are rising and that you and your families are eager to get in the water. We continue to make preparations for that to happen. Our management company, Lighthouse, has the pool ready. The county has scheduled our inspection for this Saturday, June 12. With a successful inspection, we will be ready to open for lap swimming as soon as the county officially enters phase two.

In the coming days we will release information about our new safety measures and the reservation service we will use for the duration of the summer. Please continue to monitor your inboxes and our website.

We have received some questions about reimbursements. As we have communicated, many of the club’s annual costs must be paid regardless of when, or whether, the pool opens. These costs include payment on the club’s mortgage and utilities. We also continue to pay our contract to Lighthouse so we can prepare to open. If the pool is not able to fully open, we anticipate making some partial refunds. Those refunds will not be determined until the end of the summer, when all bills are submitted. We will share more information on refunds in the upcoming FAQ.

That answer is incomplete. We recognize that, and we appreciate your continued patience. Our goals are two-fold: 1) to keep the club in a positive financial position so our families can continue to enjoy it for years to come and 2) to recognize the sacrifice you have made in not being able to enjoy the pool this summer. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to offer refunds at this moment.

Some members also have asked why we cannot simply open the pool since we are a private establishment. Like the hundreds of small businesses that are shuttered, we cannot override local government officials—indeed, this would put the pool in jeopardy for opening for future seasons. We continue to engage with county officials to urge the safe opening of our community pools. The county has information on their website if you would like to make your opinion known on this matter.

Please stay tuned for more information in the coming days.

Sincerely,

The Seven Locks Board