KVC, Historic Post Office set to open Sept. 1 in Melfort

“A lot of these facilities are utilized for event planning, and often people need to be able to make their plans in advance to make sure people are invited,” Lutz said. “Although they’re not opening now for more than a month, people will be wanting to be able to start booking dates and making sure the dates they’re planning on are available.”

Lutz said the dates are subject to change based on COVID-19 guidelines, but added the city is looking forward to being able to allow the public back into the facilities for public and private events.

There will be a number of changes to ensure social distancing can be maintained. Meetings are limited to no more than 30 people, while the CJVR Performing Arts Theatre can accommodate 30 per cent capacity, up to a maximum of 150.

There have been a few city meetings hosted at the KVC and the Historic Post Office. Lutz said they were able to hold those meetings within health guidelines.

“Things like a business meeting could occur in the gymnasium with tables physically distanced apart from each other,” Lutz said.

A recent meeting at the gymnasium saw each individual provided with their own pitcher of water, no communal passing of the coffee pot, and individual packages of cream and sugar.

“The ways that things will be executed will be slightly different, but the facility does have rooms that are large enough to accommodate [meetings and events],” Lutz added.

A bingo event will be held at the KVC on Monday, with a number of COVID-19 restrictions in place. Lutz said the event gives a chance for people to experience things they have been missing, and there is another added benefit.

“It also gives us a great opportunity to practice these new guidelines and make sure that when we do come to opening the facility for private bookings, that we’ve got the operations down in such a way that we can ensure that everyone is safe,” Lutz said.

Not all facilities have a firm reopening date. The Northern Lights Palace pool could open sometime in September, Lutz said, but there are challenges. There are restrictions on the number of patrons that can be in the pool area at one time, the dressing rooms cannot be used, and there are extra guidelines for cleaning.

Lutz said that makes it challenging for an indoor facility to be able to turn the lights on, open and fully staff the pool, provide additional cleaning, and heating and operating the pool itself. He added that makes it impractical when you can only open for 30 people.

“If the guidelines are lifted somewhat between now and September, it would make it easier if we’re able to allow more people in at one time, but of course safety is number one,” Lutz said.

The Melfort Campground is licensed for accommodation for essential workers, and throughout the pandemic it has been fully booked for contract workers throughout the northeast.

Lutz said the city will open up the campground for public booking if the work crews depart later this summer. He said the city likely won’t know if they can open to the public until August. If it isn’t available that month, then it may not be practical to have the campground reopen for just a few weeks at the end of camping season.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974

by Cam Lee

KVC, Historic Post Office set to open Sept. 1 in Melfort

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