Hundreds of employees at one of the Quad Cities largest employers reported for work Monday, and then were sent home. The continuing shutdown of the federal government is affecting many civilian employees of the Army at the Rock Island Arsenal.
The gates and emergency services are still open, but the Arsenal Museum and Corps of Engineers Visitor Center are closed.
Captain Lonnie Collier from the Army Sustainment Command says the ASC offices went through what he calls an "orderly shutdown."
"They came in, filled out the paperwork notifying them that they'd been furloughed. And passed off whatever information they needed to give to the essential personnel so they can continue operations."
Most of the ASC's civilian workers are furloughed, as are most of those who work for the Joint Munitions Command.
One area that is still open and working, is the factory, according to Kimberly Conrad from the JMTC - the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.
"Unlike other organizations that are paid through annual appropriations, we are paid through the Army working capital fund which is like a revolving fund. So our customers have paid us in advance and we're able to use those funds to continue production."
Also still open despite the shutdown are the National Cemetery and the Child Development Center, but the Arsenal Health Clinic is closed, except for the pharmacy which will stay open until its supplies run out.
