McMinnville’s Gilley Pool will not follow its normal tradition and open on Memorial Day weekend.  

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously approved a motion to give consideration to opening the pool during each regular session. With the next board meeting being May 26, the pool will not open on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend as it has in the past.

“So, we are not opening on May 23?” asked Parks and Recreation director Scott McCord. 

Mayor Ben Newman replied, “No, but be prepared to open.”

McCord says he has concerns about having enough lifeguards on staff to open the pool.

“Will the pool be clean and ready to go? Yes,” said McCord. “Will we have guards ready to open it? No. We are having them drop left and right. I think we have 13, which is not enough.”

Lifeguards are predominantly teenagers. McCord said parents do not want their children around 800 swimmers – the pool’s capacity – and the potential exposure to coronavirus. 

Tennessee State Parks officials announced last week that all public swimming pools at state parks will be closed for the 2020 season in order to keep people from gathering in large groups. According to the Centers of Disease Control, there is no evidence coronavirus is transmitted through water. 

Alderman Steve Harvey said, “I wouldn’t be in favor, at this point, of saying that we’re closed for the entire summer. There’s really no reason to do that. I think we should leave our options open. We could open it late or in the middle of summer.”

Consideration was given to opening the pool at half capacity. However, said Parks and Recreation assistant director Justin Scott, the pool is 20,000 square feet and by regulations, it must have one lifeguard per 3,000 square feet.

“If we cut the capacity in half to 400, you still have to have the same amount of lifeguards?” asked Harvey.

Scott replied, “That’s correct.”

“If everybody is closed, then I don’t think we need to be open,” said Brock.

Board members unanimously voted to leave the pool closed but revisit the decision during each session.

“I want the pool to be open, but I want to do it safely,” said Newman. “Not just for our sake, but for the community’s sake.”