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City changes Public Works shifts to protect employees

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Workers with Environmental Excavating and Contracting, contracted by Alpena, begin the process Monday of removing lead pipes from a service line in in the city. City crews were also doing spring cleanup and maintenance.

ALPENA — Alpena Department of Public Works have changed operations so needed works gets accomplished but the risk to workers who often work in close quarters is reduced.

City Engineer Rich Sullenger said employees are doing their best to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but there are times when they need to be in close proximity. For that reason, DPW has split its shifts into two groups to limit the number of people working together at one time.

“One shift works a week and then it flip-flops and the second shift works a week,” Sullenger said. “There is only so much social distancing you can do. Doing it this way ensures that, if we have a crew that does get sick, we have a backup crew ready to come in.”

A Presque Isle County woman on Monday became the first resident of the Alpena region confirmed infected with the coronavirus. Zero cases have been reported in Alpena, Montmorency, or Alcona counties, even as statewide cases surged past 17,000, with 700 deaths reported.

Spring is a busy time for DPW employees, as they do cleanup from winter and ready the city for the summer season. Sullenger said the reduced staff working at one time will slow some work somewhat, but there is still a lot taking place.

“We have the street sweeper out and cleaning up the parks and just doing needed projects,” Sullenger said. “With a half of a crew working, it is limited what we can do, but we are doing as much as possible as safely as possible.”

The city will also begin some street projects in early May and into June.

On Monday, the Alpena Municipal Council hired Everett Goodrich Trucking Inc. for $287,827 to make improvements to some city streets.

Ontario Street, from Garden Street to Franklin Street, will be resurfaced, as will as Old Washington Avenue, from 2nd Avenue to Chisholm Street, Lockwood Street, from 3rd Avenue to 2nd. Spratt Street, from Taylor Street to 2nd, will also get an upgrade.

The city is continuing to keep an eye on the impacts of high Lake Huron water levels in the area. Sullenger said the water levels, coupled with violent wave action coming onshore, still are causing some damage. He said a pair of lift stations are being monitored closely as water approaches.

“We are watching our critical infrastructure along our shoreline and do have plans in place, so, if the water gets as high as the Army Corps of Engineers says it could, we will be ready,” he said.

Since fall, the high water has damaged sidewalks, docks, and the Blair Street pier, among other issues. Sullenger said the city is being careful on what is being repaired or replaced because of budgetary restraints and the likelihood of damage reoccurring.

“I don’t want to go and fix something if it is just going to get damaged again,” Sullenger said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.

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