Updates On Public Safety And Public Works During Covid 19 Outbreak

Updated March 22, 2020 at 3:45 p.m.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, procedures are being implemented to help protect the safety of our first responders and public works crews, while ensuring the needs of the community are being continuously met.

Police and Fire Services

• Essential Police and Fire/Rescue services are continuing without disruption.
• Racine County Sheriff’s Office and Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department are following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), making sure first responders are doing everything possible to stay healthy.
• Racine County 911 Dispatch Center has enacted additional screening questions for ALL rescue calls. We are asking members of the public to be as cooperative and understanding as you can. We are asking these questions to ensure everyone’s safety.
• Specific procedures are being followed by first responders for rescue calls that involve individuals showing symptoms of COVID-19. Personal protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, goggles and N95 facemasks will be worn.
• Only essential personnel (members only – no family or friends) are current permitted in the Union Grove-Yorkville fire station. All other public meetings and trainings at the station are cancelled.
• Members of the public are being asked not come to the Sheriff’s Office or fire station for things that can be done remotely, including; open records requests, copies of accident reports and general inquiries that can be handled on the phone.
• Citizens should continue to call 911 for emergencies and (262) 886-2300 to request non-emergency law enforcement service. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to respond to calls for service. However, we will not be physically responding to all calls. If a call for service can be handled by telephone, a deputy will call the citizen back instead of responding in person. If a deputy responds to a call in person the deputy may ask you to come outside. We will attempt to keep the recommended social distancing. The deputy may ask you to hold your driver’s license or other identification care while he or she takes your identifying information.

Public Works and Utilities (Water and Sewer)

Public works and utilities will be operating at reduced levels of staffing to ensure critical public health and safety functions are provided. This means that some non-essential services will be temporarily discontinued.

• The water utility lab will continue to process compliance sampling.
• Utility personnel will be temporarily stopping all meter change outs and water leak checks on private properties.
• Residents are strongly urged to please only flush toilet paper in the toilet – DO NOT flush wipes, paper towel or any other products besides toilet paper, as these items cause blockages in the sewer system.
• Public works and utilities facilities are closed to visitors at this time, except for essential supply deliveries and service-providers.
• All garbage, recycling and yard waste collections from Johns Disposal are continuing as scheduled. The first yard waste collection of the year is on Friday, March 27.
• Please note that public playgrounds and other park facilities will not be cleaned or sanitized and should not be used.

Thank you to all of our first responders and public works/utilities crew members for their critical service during this challenging time.

For more general Village of Union Grove updates, relating to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.