Lock Haven’s City Hall shut down, police relocated, due to bacteria

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Lock Haven City Manager Greg Wilson on Wednesday announced that City Hall will be temporarily shut down, due to a water test showing “elevated levels of legionella bacteria.” He said so far there have been no reports of pneumonia or Legionnaire’s Disease among City Hall workers. His notice said city police operations will be located at Commonwealth University – Lock Haven.

The city manager’s release to the media:

“This morning, the city received the results from water sampling on its City Hall HVAC water cooling tower that indicated elevated levels of legionella bacteria.

“The testing of the HVAC water cooling tower is part of the city’s implementation of a more stringent regular preventative maintenance schedule.

“City Hall administrative offices will be closed through Thursday. Beginning Friday, the city
offices of utility billing, code enforcement, and accounts payable will be temporarily relocated to the city’s Public Works facility at 99 Second Avenue and can be reached by calling (570) 893-5917. The best way to ensure contact with any department is through email, with direct emails available to every department listed in the city directory available on its website lockhavenpa.gov.

“Payments and correspondence can still be dropped off in the drop box at the ground floor entrance to City Hall which is under 24-hour surveillance.

The city’s police operations have been temporarily relocated to the campus of Commonwealth University – Lock Haven and to reach the police for a non-emergency call (570) 748-2936. As always, in an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

“Upon learning the results of the regular preventative maintenance test, City Hall was immediately closed to staff and the public in the interest of health & safety.

The city has been in contact with the PA Department of Health, the City Health Officer, and the Clinton County Department of Emergency Services to ensure all required and recommended steps are taken to properly address the presence of legionella bacteria and remediation of the same.

“The City Hall HVAC tower is currently undergoing disinfection which takes several days, and another sample will be drawn from the tower on September 5, the results of which will take another week to ten days after that to be reported. City Hall will remain closed, and its offices temporarily relocated, until the results of the next test are known.

“No member of the city’s staff has reported being symptomatic for pneumonia or “Legionnaires’ disease.”

“As more information becomes available, City Manager Gregory Wilson will continue to update the public through local media and on the city’s website.”