By Derek Tyson, The Welch News Editor

SUPERIOR, W.Va. – The longtime free McDowell County Gym at Superior will reopen in the near future with new safety guidelines in place due to COVID-19.

Anyone wishing to revisit the gym must first visit the McDowell County Clerk’s Office in the County Courthouse to fill out a new release form. New hours for the facility will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for McDowell County residents only.

A keycard system will also be in place, with each member receiving a card upon visiting the Clerk’s Office. The door is ordered to remain closed at all times with this new system.

A sign in/out sheet will be found inside and County officials stress that initials won’t be accepted.

Inside the facility, all persons must remain 6 feet apart and be subject to wearing a mask at all times. After using equipment, it must be cleaned afterwards. Each visitor must provide their own disinfectant, paper towels and hand sanitizer. Also, no one is permitted to be in the gym for more than 1 hour per day.

Teenagers 14-18 must have a legal guardian with them at all times that will be responsible for their actions. Other guests are allowed but are also subject to the responsibility of the gym member bringing them.

With the ongoing pandemic, cleaning is no longer optional at the facility and anyone failing to follow proper protocol may be subject to membership termination.

Superior Gym Committee members will also consult with any violators, first with a verbal warning. Second offenses will be subject to a written warning, while the third offense will result in temporary suspension. Complete expulsion will follow anyone continuing to violate rules. Violence or gross negligence will result in immediate expulsion.

The McDowell County Commission nor any elected official and/or their representatives will in no way be held responsible if anyone comes into contact with anyone with COVID-19 or contracts COVID-19.

The official reopening date for the facility will be announced in the near future.