Safe, Sound, and Sanitized
On the Front Lines:
UMB Champions of Excellence
Parking and Transportation Services Maintenance Team
Office of Administration and Finance
Fewer people have been on the 网红爆料, Baltimore campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has meant fewer people using its parking facilities. But that hasn鈥檛 meant less work for a front-line crew who often stay behind the scenes: the Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) maintenance team.
At the seven campus parking garages and seven surface lots, the maintenance team tackles the general cleaning of the garage decks, restrooms, and elevators; replaces lights; removes trash; conducts pressure washing and sweeping; and makes necessary repairs. And they are continually sanitizing doors and railings, one of the important practices to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.
Or as maintenance mechanic John Daniel describes the nine-member crew鈥檚 duties: 鈥淚t鈥檚 like taking care of your house.鈥�
As essential staff, the maintenance team has continued to work on campus throughout the pandemic.
鈥淭hey continually improvise, adapt, and target the various facility demands placed upon them,鈥� Robert Milner, MS, executive director, Auxiliary Services, wrote in nominating the team as a Champion of Excellence.
The crew took advantage of several garages being closed to work on pressure washing, painting, and other projects.
鈥淭here was a period of reduced shifts when only four of the locations were opened. But we soon realized the opportunity to work on small projects and pressure wash decks in the closed facilities,鈥� said Brian Simmons, assistant director, PTS, who supervises the maintenance staff. 鈥淲e have a crew of nine who work all three shifts during the week to address issues and prepare the facilities for daily usage.鈥�
The team鈥檚 safety was a priority when the pandemic started.
鈥淎s things started to develop around the country and rumors circulated, there was an uncertainty of what to expect and uneasiness with increased chances of exposure due to the nature of their work,鈥� Simmons said. 鈥淪afety of staff was the first and foremost thing to consider as the situation heightened, and new training and equipment were investigated to deal with and limit the spread of germs on touchpoints.
Milner commended the work of the team, which in addition to Daniel includes maintenance mechanic leads Scott Wilhelm and Jerome Robinson; maintenance aide I Bernard Dickerson; maintenance aides II Terrell Boswell, Harry Turnquist, Steven Robinson, and William Gathuru; and service worker Clarence Moore.
鈥淗aving a team of individuals I can depend on to do the work well makes my job so much easier. I admire their constant dedication to the University and dedication to a job well done,鈥� Milner said. 鈥淭he conditions of the garages speak for themselves. This group does a job that鈥檚 not noticed until they aren鈥檛 there to do it. It鈥檚 rare to see trash littering the facility or gum sticking to your shoe. This team is constantly moving from facility to facility to make sure the campus retains the quality it deserves.鈥�
And the team鈥檚 work is not slowing down as it prepares the parking facilities for winter.
鈥淲e are currently operating six of the seven garages and are gearing up for the winter months, distributing ice melt to all locations and testing all snow removal equipment,鈥� Simmons said.
鈥� Jen Badie
