SOUTH HAVEN, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — City officials in South Haven are urging residents to comply with Governor Whitmer’s “stay-at-home” Executive Order that was issued Monday.
This order, officially known as Executive Order No. 2020-21, prohibits all businesses and operations from requiring workers to leave their homes, “unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations,” an official statement reads.
The order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and will last for at least the next three weeks, minus exceptions. The Order was issued as a part of efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, or coronavirus.
As a result, South Haven officials are urging citizens to follow all established rules under the order.
“I ask all residents and businesses in South Haven to do their part to ‘flatten the curve’ byfollowing the governor’s orders and staying at home,” South Haven Mayor Scott Smith said from his home Monday morning. “We have postponed all scheduled public meetings during this time, and city hall remains closed to non-employees. We will continue to provide essential services.”
Smith adds that citizens should stay up-to-date on all related developments online.
“We will keep residents and businesses informed through our website and social mediaplatforms,” Smith said. “We have seen our community come together in remarkable ways during the past several weeks, and I would encourage us to continue to do so by putting others ahead of self.”
Essential services provided by the City will continue to be maintained, including the South HavenPolice Department, South Haven Area Emergency Services and all utility services.
In the meantime, South Haven officials are also asking for citizens to be mindful how they throw away disposable wipes.
The South Haven Area Water and Sewer Authority (SHAWSA) says that the action of flushing these disposable wipes down the toilet is causing water infrastructure problems around the country, including South Haven.
Officials say that, while many of these wipes (used for cleaning, hygiene, and more) are labeled as septic safe or flush safe, many are not.
“Because they don’t break down the way toilet paper does, disposable wipes clog homeowner and municipal sewer pipes, put stress on our community wastewater collection and treatment equipment, and cause authority to spend thousands on premature equipment repair and replacement,” officials said in a statement. “Wipes snag on any imperfection in sewer pipes, catch passing debris and grease, and create a ‘ball’ that will grow to plug the pipe. They also get drawn into sewer-line, and wastewater treatment plant pumps and clogs and damage them.”
Because of this, South Haven water officials say that citizens should be mindful when disposing of these types of products.
“We realize everyone is concerned about disinfection, and using disinfection wipes, flushable wipes, and paper towels for this purpose are admirable,” officials added. “However, these items do not belong in the toilet.”
News of the COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. Citizens can keep up to date with the latest information at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
