Auditor’s Office resumes field work

Workers will wear masks, gloves, identifiable markings

Lake County Auditor Christopher Galloway recently announced that his office will be resuming field work that was previously postponed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“I made the decision in March to pull our team from the field out of an abundance of caution for their health and that of the public,” Galloway said. “Working in busy public places like gas stations and grocery stores and coming into contact with many open, public surfaces — like gas pumps — meant contracting and spreading COVID-19 would have been probable.”

The office’s Weights and Measures personnel resumed their duties May 11.

“As Ohio has successfully ‘flattened the curve’ and begins to resume normal economic activity, it is important that our work ensuring accurately measured commerce continues. Gas may be way cheaper right now, but folks still need to know that when they pay for 10 gallons, they are getting 10 gallons,” Galloway said.

Workers returning to the field will wear masks, gloves and identifiable Auditor’s Office markings while maintaining a sixfoot distance to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public, Galloway noted.

“We’ve been working to secure the needed personal protective equipment for field work and that is the other factor that will allow field work to continue,” he added.

For additional precautions, Weights and Measures work through the month of May will be limited to fuel stations, industrial scales, natural gas, propane and heating oil delivery trucks.

“We will look to resume the indoor inspection of scales at grocery stores in June,” Galloway said.

In addition to the forthcoming Weights and Measures work, the office last week resumed limited field work on new construction appraisal.

“With similar guidelines in place, we have begun our seasonal data collection while limiting public interaction where possible,” said Chief Deputy of Real Estate Scott Yamamoto.

With the exception of field work, the Auditor’s Office has remained fully functional during the pandemic lockdown.

“Despite being closed to the public, our office has gotten the mission critical work done through split shifts, work-from-home, online meetings and communications,” said Chief Deputy Auditor Michele Pennell. “Our team has really pulled together.”

Galloway