The city of Litchfield Park continues to navigate the challenges of COVID-19, with a total of three employees testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the past couple of weeks.
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The city of Litchfield Park continues to navigate the challenges of COVID-19, with a total of three employees testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the past couple of weeks.
Public Works Department employees are self-quarantining after one of their co-workers tested positive last week, City Manager Bill Stephens said Monday, July 13.
“We’re trying to get another test done to determine if anyone else in Public Works is infected or not,” he said. “As we determine if they’re OK or not, we’ll allow them to come back to work. Right now, that looks like next Monday, July 20, 2020.”
Litchfield Park’s normal maintenance schedule is on hold, but there is still work being done, Mr. Stephens said.
“If someone isn’t showing signs or others in their family are OK, then we’ll use them sparingly to take care of necessary things, like our parks’ restrooms, or if we have an emergency such as an irrigation leak, water line break or a fallen tree late in the night, for example,” he said. “We’ll regroup next Monday to see if we can bring the whole crew back and get them on their normal routine and schedule. I’m hoping we won’t have any other positives come up and we can get our PW crews back in action soon.”
The city shut down its Recreation Center and Pool, 100 N. Old Litchfield Road, on June 23 after a lifeguard tested positive, and announced July 8 the pool would remain closed indefinitely after a second lifeguard tested positive.
Recreation Center programs remain on indefinite hold but the lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday for registrations, Mr. Stephens said.
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 has created much uncertainty for schedules and that includes our programs. However, in order to be prepared for any given activity to start, we have to start much earlier to plan and get registrations completed,” he said. “We’re still taking registrations for fall youth sports, tennis lessons and, once a firm date is established, we potentially have pre-school opening at some point, so we’re taking registrations there, too.”
Other city staff members are working from home and coming in when and where needed, Mr. Stephens said. City Hall and the Magistrate’s Court remain open for walk-ins.
For updates, visit the city’s website, litchfield-park.org, its Facebook page, @cityoflitchfieldpark or call City Hall at 623-935-5033.
Kelly O’Sullivan News Editor | Litchfield Park& Goodyear @AzNewsmedia
Kelly O’Sullivan is a longtime journalist who joined Independent Newsmedia in January 2020, after returning to the Valley from Twentynine Palms, California, where she worked for eight years as a communications specialist for the U.S. Marine Corps. When she’s not covering stories of interest to Litchfield Park, Goodyear and other Southwest Valley residents, she stays busy rediscovering Arizona and photographing its spectacular landscapes and wildlife.
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