LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Hall is free of legionella bacteria, according to test results returned to city staff recently.

“The City of Lock Haven has received the results of the first of a series of tests required to establish that City Hall is free of legionella bacteria and safe for employees to return to work at the location,” a release from City Manager Greg Wilson said.

City Hall closed on Aug. 30 due to positive tests of the disease — which can cause both Legionnaires Disease and Pontiac Fever — in its HVAC system.

Following the discovery, the system was disinfected and samples retaken from the HVAC along with other areas of the building.

“The first culture test has come back and shows that legionella is no longer present at that location in the building from which it was taken. The remaining tests are to be received through the week of Sept. 25,” Wilson said.

If each test comes back negative for legionella, city staff will be able to return to the facility and reopen.

“If a test were to come back that a location in the building is still positive for legionella, the city would address that by sanitizing and resampling the area while continuing to operate from other locations,” Wilson said. “The city continues to follow the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and hopes to return to basing its police and administrative operations out of City Hall by the end of September.”

In either event, Wilson said an update on the city’s website and through the media would be made.

In the meantime, Lock Haven City Police are continuing to operate out of a temporary facility at Commonwealth University of Lock Haven.

The remaining offices at City Hall are operating out of the city’s Public Works facility at 99 Second Ave. Staff may be reached at 570-893-5917.

“Those calling are reminded that more than six departments are sharing this single phone line and single office,” Wilson said. “To ensure the quickest response time from any City Hall based departments, email is preferred and a complete list of email addresses for departments can be found in the city directory on the city’s website at lockhavenpa.gov.”

As results are known and more information is available, Wilson will continue to update the public through the city’s website, lockhavenpa.gov and through the media.