CHESTERFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer's new stay-at-home order, in place through May 15, eases some restrictions on outdoor activities and businesses.
Among those is landscaping -- an area of hot debate under the last stay-at-home order, with some cities and law enforcement agencies vowing to not implement a full ban on lawn services, including the City of Warren and the Roseville Police Department.
Some companies chose to still operate but in a limited capacity, while others shut down altogether.
Joe Kelly owns First Cut Lawn Care in Warren. He chose to stop operations altogether under the last executive order and lost thousands in the process.
MORE | Read Gov. Whitmer's full executive order here
Friday's announcement that some restrictions would be loosening in the new stay-at-home order was welcome news for him and his employees.
"We’re behind. We’re trying to catch up. Financially, obviously, going a couple weeks with nothing isn’t very helpful. But hopefully, with it open and it’s still early in the season, that we can do some really long days to try to get back to where we could have been," Kelly said.
In addition to lawn care, among the activities previously banned that are now allowed include:
-Boating
-Golfing (no carts)
-Nurseries are open
-Big box stores can open garden centers back up
-Bike repair and maintenance now back online
“I think it really gives a sense of normalcy when our crews are out there taking care of the lawn," said Chester Buczynski, owner of Big Lakes Lawn Care. His crews were out at multiple locations in Chesterfield early Monday morning.
Anyone having their lawns cut for the first time in a while today? Under the new stay-at-home order landscaping is now allowed, with certain requirements like enhanced social distancing. We're talking with landscapers who rushed out the door on jobs this morning @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/EPerGad8yx
— Jenn Schanz (@JennSchanzWXYZ) April 27, 2020
Kelly's crews are out in one-man teams right now to make sure social distancing isn't a problem.
"We spent the weekend getting everybody ready and starting early this morning we are out on lawns and excited to get back to work," he said.
Buczynski pointed out that as always, payment is done either over the phone or online. Customers don't have any in-person contact with crews, who are equipped with PPE.
"It’s face masks, all the crews are wearing gloves, sanitization protocols," he told Action News.
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
Find out how you can help metro Detroit restaurants struggling during the pandemic.
See all of our Helping Each Other stories.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.