(6/14) Carroll Valley Borough Manager David Hazlett announced plans at the June Council meeting to re-open the municipal parks and office, also noting that certain COVID restrictions would remain in place, particularly regarding the Borough Office.
Hazlett said that the borough parks, Carroll Commons, and Ranch Trail Commons, would be opening on June 12, and that the Borough Office would be re-opening on June 15, both of which have taken place, as stated.
Regarding the re-opening of the parks, the borough manager said the walking trails had remained open during the height of the coronavirus restrictions, but now, the playground equipment and sports fields would be opened-up to public use, as well.
"We're prepared to use a mist-disinfectant on the park equipment, and the intention is to use that (application) one time, daily… in the mornings," he stated, adding, "We were a little iffy on the bathroom situation (in the parks)," but the decision was made to employ the same mist-disinfectant being used on the playground equipment, "So we feel comfortable opening them."
The borough has also purchased the necessary backpack sprayer to apply the misting. Hazlett said the
disinfectant to be used for generating the mist can essentially be produced in-house, saving the borough considerable expense.
The borough manager said, during a brain-storming session, that dealt in part with computing the expense of routinely disinfecting the park and office equipment, that instead of buying nearly $1,000-worth of disinfectant, it was actually available locally for only a few dollars "because (it was realized) we have a plant that disinfects water, 100,000 gallons worth-of-water a day."
He said the sewer plant buys disinfectant in bulk, and so the plant is able to mix-up some disinfectant for general usage, for just a couple of dollars ..."
Hazlett also said that disinfecting in the park and office was to be made part of the routine and would not be discontinued as COVID winds-down or diminishes. "That's going to be part of what we do, forever."
Regarding the office re-opening, he stated "We've been back to work a couple of weeks now, but we haven't opened the front doors... Our hope is as of Monday (June 15th), we would open the doors."
He said the Plexiglas protective-shield would be installed at the front-window for those who interact there, and that masks would be required upon entering the building. In addition, there would be electronic hand-sanitizer dispensers. The hall bathrooms would remain closed, because they have dry wall which does not take sanitizing efforts very well.
The Borough Council expressed support for Hazlett's plan to re-open and precautionary measures proposed to be taken.
