Melvindale’s John K. Kessey Fieldhouse will remain closed until city officials are assured that all mandated COVID-19 sanitizing protocols are in place and functioning for the facility, including locker room areas.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – The City Council tabled a motion to reopen Kessey Fieldhouse until it is assured that all mandated COVID-19 cleaning protocols can be met, including the stringent common area sanitizing requirements.
Susan Louvet, director of Parks and Recreation, said pandemic precautions have been put in place, including clear partitions in office areas, and she hopes to have hand sanitizer stations throughout the arena.
She said October and November are the months when sports teams no longer want to play outdoors and seek indoor arenas.
“I did reach out to a couple of big groups and the coaches, and said as soon as allowed, we will be ready,” Louvet said. “As soon as they get the green light, they said they would be back as well.”
City Councilwoman Dawn Cartrette asked if the revenue earned by renting arena space to teams would cover the cost of the additional facility sanitization needed between teams.
“If what we’ve got coming in isn’t going to cover what we’ve got coming out, I honestly can’t see opening it yet,” she said.
Arena sanitization, and the time needed to clean between teams, was discussed.
It was noted that no-touch thermometers would be needed to screen people entering the fieldhouse, a screening preparedness plan needs to be developed, and failure to follow the state’s protocols could result in repercussions.
City Councilman Steven Densmore said he can’t see reopening the fieldhouse before city hall is reopened.
“We are still out there in a kind of no-man’s land, figuring out what we are going to do as a city,” he said. “I can’t support opening this place back up until we know exactly what’s going on.”
Mayor Wheeler Marsee said city hall is remaining closed to the public because if one employee contracts COVID-19, it would cause city hall to shut down.
“Right now, we are doing business through phone communication and other means,” he said. “It is a way we can still provide service to our community.”
City Attorney Larry Coogan said he has familiarized himself with the governor’s executive orders, and he said that arena space in the field house can only be rented to associations, and that drop-in play cannot be permitted.
He also noted that every area used by an organized group has to be thoroughly disinfected between each group’s usage, and teams must be in separate locker rooms. He said he was unsure what the cost would be to thoroughly spray the areas rented with disinfectant between groups of users.
“Certainly, I think, any anticipation of opening the facility would require us to have contracts with the associations, and they agree to pay the money up front,” Coogan said.
The council then voted to table the motion to reopen the fieldhouse until the body has more information upon which to base its decision.