Jackson County gyms unhappy with reopening guidelines

As part of Jackson County's phase one reopening plan, gyms must stay closed for now, and there's no timeline on when they might reopen.

GYMS AND FITNESSCENTERS IN JACKSONCOUNTY ARE CLOSEDINDEFNITELY.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESTALKED OWNERS --FRUSTRATED THEY WERELEFT OUT OF THEREOPENING PLAN.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Gym owners say they haveplenty of systems in place thatcan keep their gyms safewhile following all the properguidelines for their membersFor some reason - they wereleft out of the Jackson Countyphase 1 re-opening guidelinesand they want to know why."KURT MUELLER, OWNER, BLUESPRINGS FITNESS"I scrolled down and it saidgyms closed and I was literallyspeechless."BLUE SPRINGS OWNERKURT MUELLER SAYSBEFORE CLOSING DOWN -HIS GYM HAD A SYSTEMTHAT ONLY ALLOWED 10PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGAT ONCE.KURT MUELLER, OWNER, BLUESPRINGS FITNESS"It worked out beautifully, weupped our sanitation efforts,everyone was cleaning upafter themselves."HE WANTS TO KNOW WHYHE CAN'T RE-OPEN SINCEHE CAN FOLLOW THEGUIDELINES LAID OUT.KURT MUELLER, OWNER, BLUESPRINGS FITNESS"I don't understand why weare being singled out, I justdon't understand it."ACROSS TOWN - ANYTIMEFITNESS OWNER RACHELWATTENBARGER WANTSANSWERS TOO.SHE ALSO WORKS AS ANURSE PRACTITIONER.RACHEL WATTENBARGER, CO-OWNER, ANYTIME FITNESS"With my love of science andall things I've dedicated mylifeto, I fully respect andappreciate the seriousness ofthe virus, but on a businessstandpoint I just want a levelplaying field."RACHEL SAYS GYMS CANKEEP DETAILED RECORDS,MAINTAIN SOCIALDISTANCE, AND LOWEROCCUPANCY.BOTH GYM OWNERS SAYGYMS ARE RELIED ONHEAVILY AS A STRESSRELIEVER TO HELP WITHMENTAL HEALTH.RACHEL WATTENBARGER, CO-OWNER, ANYTIME FITNESS"There are lots of reasons weneed to be open, and no goodreason that we're not open,and no one is answering mewhen I ask why not."IN BLUE SPRINGS, EMMAJAMES, 41 ACTION NEWS.BOTH OWNERS SAYTHEY'RE SEEKING HELPFROM JACKSON COUNTYLEGISLATOR JEANIELAUER.LAUER SAYS SHEEMPATHIZES WITH THEMAND PLANS TO ACT AS ALIAISON BETWEEN THEMAND THE COUNTY HEALTHDEPARTMENT TO SEE IF