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Hundreds of City of Detroit workers, contractors back on the job

Posted at 11:35 AM, May 04, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-05 12:07:23-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Hundreds of workers and contractors for the City of Detroit returned to work Monday. Seasonal lawn care workers mowed and picked up trash at Peterson Park on Detroit's west side.

"For all the seasonals (workers)... went through State fairgrounds to get tested for COVID-19 and then when they came into our building to start the day, everyday they'll be screened with a thermometer," said Jacob Fawaz, a grounds supervisor.

Fawaz says the number of people in work vehicles are limited, and everyone is equipped with gloves, masks, disinfectant, and wipes as they look to beautify about five of the city's 300 parks today.

In addition to lawn care, the city's public works department says street sweeping, pothole repair, construction inspections and cleaning up of illegal dump sites are among the other services being performed, starting Monday.\

"People were nervous, including myself, at first," Fawaz said. "You know, you don't know what to expect. It's uncharted territory from the beginning, but life's gotta go on."

"You got to get back to work, and I think they feel good seeing that we've been proactive, taking the necessary steps and precautions," he said.

He says the city will publish a mowing schedule so that residents will know when their local park will get a fresh cut.