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Keeping the kids safe: Local company donates time, equipment to clean ARC

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GALENA–In a scene that looks like it is from a sci-fi movie, two people in hazmat suits were at the Galena ARC on July 2 and 3, cleaning and spraying disinfectant. These two individuals were from a local company, Midwest Maintenance Group, volunteering to help the Galena ARC stay ahead of the COVID pandemic.

Due to the proactive protocols and CDC guidelines that ARC staff have already put in place, there have not been any cases of COVID-19. The management of Midwest Maintenance Group wanted to do what they could to help. After contacting Dave Decker, executive director of the Galena ARC, about donating services, a plan was put into place.

“This job was donated to us,” said Decker. “They were super generous. We are very appreciative of it.”

Electrostatic sprayers were used by the company because they provide uniform coverage in all types of environments. The sprayers are also safe for sensitive surfaces including electronics. These units are hard to come by, but according to Bill Grundhoefer, owner of Midwest Maintenance, the sprayers are the best in the industry.

“The spray dries immediately without leaving any residue,” said Grundhoefer. “It emits positively charged particles that wrap around the surface 360 degrees, which makes sure the solution reaches corners, crevices, backsides and other hard-to-reach places that are often missed when using regular sprayers.”

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Hospital-grade and EPA-approved disinfectant was also used to provide complete coverage without any chemical order. This disinfectant is specifically used for hospitals, nursing homes, operating rooms, schools, lodging establishments, retail business and recreational facilities where controlling the hazard of cross contamination is of prime importance.

The crew at Midwest Maintenance that worked at the Galena ARC was fully trained and had Global Bio Risk Advisory Council accreditation with an emphasis on COVID-19. The training is intended to teach preventative response, infection control and contamination control measures. The crew has also been trained on protocol for response and remediation of personal protective equipment (PPE), tools and equipment.

In total it took two days for the company to complete the 30,000-square-foot facility.

Midwest Maintenance Group is located in Galena. The company has worked with many local and regional businesses, including Tammy’s Piggly Wiggly and Blaum Brothers, for cleaning and maintenance services. The company has 24 years of experience in the industry.

“We had a great option provided by Bill and his crew to have our facility cleaned top and bottom at this point,” said Decker. “It is so important for the ARC to keep COVID-19 out of our building. We need to control what we can control. We have mandated temperature checks throughout the day, wearing masks and avoiding co-mingling between different classrooms. It is refreshing having them in the building. It reemphasizes that beyond a shadow of a doubt, we are doing what we can to keep COVID out.”