In a special called meeting last Tuesday the Union Board of Aldermen moved forward with a plan to lockdown city properties after a part-time police officer tested positive for Covid-19.
Mayor Wayne Welch said he learned the officer had tested positive the previous Sunday and discussed what needed to happen with his staff.
“Sunday night [the City Clerk] called me and said one of our part-time police officers had tested positive for the virus and said she was concerned,” Welch said. “The reason she was concerned, if you think about it, we only have two that’s in City Hall. I can’t run City Hall,” he said.
The City of Union operates with minimal staff, Welch said. Only two people work in City Hall and another two in the Water Department. Should one or more city employees get sick, he said, that could cause a big problem for the town.
After talking with the City Clerk, Welch called each of the aldermen and shared his plan to shut down city hall.
“I said we probably need to go under lockdown on everybody,” he said. “Each and every one of you said you agreed. A lockdown was no question.”
After running it past the aldermen, Welch said ordered all city property closed to the public immediately. However, Monday, a healthcare worker exposed to Covid-19 needed a place to isolate from her family while waiting the 14-day period to see if she might have caught the virus. Despite the lockdown, several aldermen agreed to allow her to self-quarantine in the city RV Park.
If the city can help out healthcare workers and first responders during the pandemic, Welch said, that’s fine with him; however, the board needed to come to an agreement on what was closed and what was open.
Union’s RV Park has 11 spots, Welch said, but seven of those do not have water and sewer hookups. Should all of them be open to first responders in self-quarantine? How long can they stay?
City Attorney Doug Smith said the board would also be wise to clarify what it meant by “first responders” in the minutes to make sure everyone is on the same page moving forward.
After discussing the park, the board voted 3-1 to open the four RV spots with water and sewer hookups to medical personnel, firemen, policemen, paramedics and active military needing to self-quarantine due to exposure to the Covid-19 virus. Tenants will be allowed to stay for up to 14 days with an extension possible upon approval of the Board of Aldermen. The RV spots will be issued at no cost; however tenants will be expected to follow self-quarantine procedures and not congregate in the park.
