City Preps For Stages Of Reopening During Pandemic
May 5, 2020 at 1:12 a.m.
City Preps For Stages Of Reopening During Pandemic
By David [email protected]
In March, Holcomb issued emergency executive orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively shutting down governments and most businesses except essential services. Then on Friday, Holcomb announced the five stages to reopen the state, with the state totally open by July 4 barring any unforeseen circumstances.
On Friday, Thallemer signed an executive order for extending the stay-at-home pay for city employees for another two weeks. When that ends next Friday, it will be end of the 60-days ordinance the council approved in March. If it needs to go any longer, the city council will have to review and decide on that, but Thallemer said Monday he doesn’t anticipate that happening. “The next two weeks will be the final two weeks of the order, as far as I can tell,” he said.
Thallemer said he huddled with the city department heads at 3:30 p.m. Friday after Holcomb presented his five stages of recovery. He said there was some flexibility in what the city could do.
This week, the city will be putting plexiglass shields in place where needed, purchasing some personal protection equipment and sanitizer for city employees and making arrangements for workers so they have adequate separation when they return. Thallemer said city employees will be back Monday, May 11. Today, May 5, he will have another department head meeting to make sure there are plans in place to present to employees.
There is no date set just yet when city buildings will be back open to the public, Thallemer said, as there is more planning to do. “Whatever we do, we’ll still meet people by appointment. We’ve been doing that anyway,” he said.
He noted the state has a “wonderful” website that talks about the various stages and gives reasoning for them. The website is at https://backontrack.in.gov/.
“A lot of this will be predicated on how we all react, not just here with the city employees, but out in the community,” Thallemer said.
He said over the weekend, he had a lot of calls about people not wearing masks in retail stores and gatherings of people not practicing social distancing.
“It seems like lots of people took a sigh of relief and forgot we’re an outbreak away from going back to where we are,” Thallemer said, adding people can’t take their feet off the gas and need to continue wearing facemasks, practice social distancing and washing their hands.
Facemasks are available at the Center Street fire department, and four different groups are sewing those, he said. The public seems to be utilizing them and “we can’t keep them on the shelves,” Thallemer said.
The city is working on putting protocol in place for when the city buildings open to the public, he said. “I feel certain we will require masks when anyone comes into city hall,” he said, adding that adjustments “will be with us for some time.”
Thallemer also noted that on Friday, Holcomb said he designated $350 million to local units of government like cities, counties and towns for relief, primarily for PPE, and Thallemer learned more about that Monday. He said each city will be set aside a certain amount of fund, and cities have to file claims for that amount so they need to keep track on what they spend for PPE. It will be subject to an audit. “There’s also a possibility we can utilize that funds to purchase PPE for businesses. ... A lot of the rules haven’t come down yet, we’re still waiting,” he said.
Last Friday, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced it awarded Kosciusko County, through Kosciusko Economic Development Corp., $245,000 in relief funds for small businesses. The Warsaw Common Council on April 20 approved $100,000 out of the city’s Economic Development Income Tax fund for KEDCo’s Small Business Relief Fund, too. The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday approved the release of that $100,000, which KEDCo will administer.
Thallemer said KEDCo has approved eight applications already, and many small businesses have applied for those loans.
In another matter, Thallemer presented a transfer request of $15,000 to fund the city’s portion of a study outlining the redevelopment opportunities along Argonne Road. The town of Winona Lake is paying $10,000 and KEDCo is paying $3,640 toward that study, too.
The city’s share will come from professional fees in the Warsaw Interurban TIF fund, a very low performing TIF district, Thallemer said. He said there’s a lot of potential in that district.
Councilman Mike Klondaris said the area is “ripe for something,” as the greenway is getting more used than he’s seen in his life. He said he wants to see something there as much as anyone.
According to a memo from City Planner Jeremy Skinner, the area was a “major part” of the city’s Stellar Plan a few years ago and is also an “important’?entrance into Winona Lake. “With the various projects being designed and completed in the area, it is important that we continue to explore the redevelopment of this corridor,” the memo states. The city has helped with the recent location of a new businesses along the corridor and is exploring the redevelopment of the old Arnolt and Gatke properties.
In addition to the improvements recently made along Market Street, the bike trail and the soon-to-be roundabout at Argonne Road and Winona Avenue, Skinner’s memo notes “it is important we have a coordinated redevelopment effort with Winona Lake.”
Klondaris made a motion to approve the transfer “because I want to see something happen out there in my lifetime.” Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins made the second. Councilwoman Diane Quance said it’s a good idea and the city got a good start with the new gas station and trail head in that area. The transfer was unanimously approved.
Dobbins then thanked the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and Warsaw Community Development Corp. for their efforts in promoting local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. She said she feels “they’ve done an excellent job over the last several weeks in trying to support businesses in the area.”
Thallemer also thanked Stafford’s Solid Waste for their gift card giveaway Saturday, which not only supported local citizens but also five local businesses.
In March, Holcomb issued emergency executive orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively shutting down governments and most businesses except essential services. Then on Friday, Holcomb announced the five stages to reopen the state, with the state totally open by July 4 barring any unforeseen circumstances.
On Friday, Thallemer signed an executive order for extending the stay-at-home pay for city employees for another two weeks. When that ends next Friday, it will be end of the 60-days ordinance the council approved in March. If it needs to go any longer, the city council will have to review and decide on that, but Thallemer said Monday he doesn’t anticipate that happening. “The next two weeks will be the final two weeks of the order, as far as I can tell,” he said.
Thallemer said he huddled with the city department heads at 3:30 p.m. Friday after Holcomb presented his five stages of recovery. He said there was some flexibility in what the city could do.
This week, the city will be putting plexiglass shields in place where needed, purchasing some personal protection equipment and sanitizer for city employees and making arrangements for workers so they have adequate separation when they return. Thallemer said city employees will be back Monday, May 11. Today, May 5, he will have another department head meeting to make sure there are plans in place to present to employees.
There is no date set just yet when city buildings will be back open to the public, Thallemer said, as there is more planning to do. “Whatever we do, we’ll still meet people by appointment. We’ve been doing that anyway,” he said.
He noted the state has a “wonderful” website that talks about the various stages and gives reasoning for them. The website is at https://backontrack.in.gov/.
“A lot of this will be predicated on how we all react, not just here with the city employees, but out in the community,” Thallemer said.
He said over the weekend, he had a lot of calls about people not wearing masks in retail stores and gatherings of people not practicing social distancing.
“It seems like lots of people took a sigh of relief and forgot we’re an outbreak away from going back to where we are,” Thallemer said, adding people can’t take their feet off the gas and need to continue wearing facemasks, practice social distancing and washing their hands.
Facemasks are available at the Center Street fire department, and four different groups are sewing those, he said. The public seems to be utilizing them and “we can’t keep them on the shelves,” Thallemer said.
The city is working on putting protocol in place for when the city buildings open to the public, he said. “I feel certain we will require masks when anyone comes into city hall,” he said, adding that adjustments “will be with us for some time.”
Thallemer also noted that on Friday, Holcomb said he designated $350 million to local units of government like cities, counties and towns for relief, primarily for PPE, and Thallemer learned more about that Monday. He said each city will be set aside a certain amount of fund, and cities have to file claims for that amount so they need to keep track on what they spend for PPE. It will be subject to an audit. “There’s also a possibility we can utilize that funds to purchase PPE for businesses. ... A lot of the rules haven’t come down yet, we’re still waiting,” he said.
Last Friday, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced it awarded Kosciusko County, through Kosciusko Economic Development Corp., $245,000 in relief funds for small businesses. The Warsaw Common Council on April 20 approved $100,000 out of the city’s Economic Development Income Tax fund for KEDCo’s Small Business Relief Fund, too. The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on Friday approved the release of that $100,000, which KEDCo will administer.
Thallemer said KEDCo has approved eight applications already, and many small businesses have applied for those loans.
In another matter, Thallemer presented a transfer request of $15,000 to fund the city’s portion of a study outlining the redevelopment opportunities along Argonne Road. The town of Winona Lake is paying $10,000 and KEDCo is paying $3,640 toward that study, too.
The city’s share will come from professional fees in the Warsaw Interurban TIF fund, a very low performing TIF district, Thallemer said. He said there’s a lot of potential in that district.
Councilman Mike Klondaris said the area is “ripe for something,” as the greenway is getting more used than he’s seen in his life. He said he wants to see something there as much as anyone.
According to a memo from City Planner Jeremy Skinner, the area was a “major part” of the city’s Stellar Plan a few years ago and is also an “important’?entrance into Winona Lake. “With the various projects being designed and completed in the area, it is important that we continue to explore the redevelopment of this corridor,” the memo states. The city has helped with the recent location of a new businesses along the corridor and is exploring the redevelopment of the old Arnolt and Gatke properties.
In addition to the improvements recently made along Market Street, the bike trail and the soon-to-be roundabout at Argonne Road and Winona Avenue, Skinner’s memo notes “it is important we have a coordinated redevelopment effort with Winona Lake.”
Klondaris made a motion to approve the transfer “because I want to see something happen out there in my lifetime.” Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins made the second. Councilwoman Diane Quance said it’s a good idea and the city got a good start with the new gas station and trail head in that area. The transfer was unanimously approved.
Dobbins then thanked the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and Warsaw Community Development Corp. for their efforts in promoting local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. She said she feels “they’ve done an excellent job over the last several weeks in trying to support businesses in the area.”
Thallemer also thanked Stafford’s Solid Waste for their gift card giveaway Saturday, which not only supported local citizens but also five local businesses.
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