Foley moves forward to install virus-reducing technology in city facilities

By Jessica Vaughn
Posted 6/15/20

FOLEY - The City of Foley approved $120,000 towards the purchase and installation of passive and active technologies in city-owned buildings to help combat the risk of viruses, bacteria, and germs. …

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Foley moves forward to install virus-reducing technology in city facilities

Posted

FOLEY - The City of Foley approved $120,000 towards the purchase and installation of passive and active technologies in city-owned buildings to help combat the risk of viruses, bacteria, and germs. The city is also looking to purchase miniature air scrubbers that can be attached within vehicle cabs to be installed within city firetrucks.

The city is applying for a FEMA grant available to local governments to cover the costs associated with cities’ responses to COVID-19 in hopes to get reimbursed for the purchases.

Passive technology includes UV lighting, which previously was approved for installation within the Event Center’s HVAC units. Passive technology means that air containing germs and viruses must pass through the UV light for the light to then kill it.

Active technology includes ionization. Ionization, specifically needlepoint bipolar ionization, charges the air within a space, making particles in the air heavy and fall out, while breaking apart virus molecules and killing them. Ionization was chosen for use within city buildings due to its lack of byproducts that could have potentially negative effects on employees and citizens.

“The Event Center’s HVAC units are more commercial, but most of our units throughout the city are residential style,” said Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby. “With the smaller units we felt that active technology was the way to go, and then we feel like down the road we may want to follow that up with passive technology so you get a layering effect. We want to kill whatever negative bacteria is in the air and make sure we kill it.”

The three things considered when choosing these technologies were cost, current availability, and if in-house maintenance would be possible. City buildings have been prioritized based off the upcoming voting season and foot-traffic numbers. Buildings in order of priority are: Civic Center/City Hall, Graham Creek Interpretive Center, Foley Public Library, Senior Center, Symbol Health Solutions, Welcome Center, Justice Center, Depot Museum, Train Exhibit, Comfort Station, Fire Stations one and three, Sports Tourism, Mel Roberts Park Concession Stand, Sports Plex, IT/Rec Center, Engineering building, Public Works building, Pedestrian Bridge, Peteet Building, Snook Youth Club, and the Community Development building. A non-city owned polling location, the Foley United Methodist Church, is being considered for equipment purchase if funding is possible, but not installation.

“None of this technology is 100 percent effective,” said City Administrator Mike Thompson. “Everything that we do has a positive effect for us … All of this will reduce the risk, but it doesn’t do away entirely with the risk.”