Senior Center to reopen after Labor Day

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The Slaton Senior Citizens Center has been waiting patiently to reopen since it was shuttered due to COVID-19.

An earlier attempt to reopen it on Aug. 3 was reconsidered due to several issues.

Now, the Center has confirmed they plan to reopen Sept. 8, after Labor Day.

Nita Williams, Director at the Senior Citizens Center, said the board voted to finally reopen.

“It was time,” she said. “The main reason for waiting until the day after Labor Day is that it takes a minimum of two weeks to authorize meals through (South Plains Area Governments/Health and  Human Services).  “Since the Board met on (Aug. 13), it was a bit tight to get it done by Sept. 1,” Williams added. “The other reason is the person we hired for cleaning was not available until Sept. 1.”

The cleaning staff will be important here in order to get the center in top shape for reopening.

“There will be a deep cleaning with professional, CDC approved cleaning products and sanitizer,” said Williams. The 30 days also allows the center to buy other items needed such as masks, sanitizer, disinfectant, wipes and such to be ready. Williams added they have some of these items but not enough to maintain a virus free environment right now.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.