Platte City government is focused on maintaining basic government services, but would like the public to know that adjustments to schedules and services are necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus and keep their employees healthy so that public services can continue as normally as possible during this period.
Mayor Frank Offutt has declared a state of emergency for Platte City.
“The main purpose behind today’s declaration is to provide the city with the budgetary and purchasing flexibility needed to respond to a rapidly changing situation,” Offutt said.
“The declaration also allows the mayor to direct staff to take actions needed to maintain public health and safety and to maintain basic services to all residents. This declaration does not currently place any restrictions on the operations of schools and private business.”
The mayor’s declaration authorizes city staff to implement a series of immediate response actions including adjustments to city facility, programs and services until at least May 1.
City Hall lobby and administrative offices will remain open to the public during normal business hours. All other city facilities (Civic Center, Police Administration, Lions Club Building and Public Works yard) are closed to the public.
City staff in all departments will begin split shift operations immediately; some staff in all functional areas will work at home to reduce potential for multiple staff illness.
City boards and commissions will continue to meet until further notice; although these meetings are likely to shift to online “virtual” meeting formats in the near future.
Residents are encouraged to conduct city business online (www.plattecity.org) or by phone 816-858-3046), as much as possible.
“Please do not come to City Hall if you are not feeling well or if you have the ability to contact staff either online or by phone,” Offutt said.
Residents are also strongly encouraged to follow the hygiene and social distancing guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control, including the guidance to avoid any gathering of more than 10 people.
“As a community we need to look out for one another, as an organization, the city and its staff will do anything we can do to help our residents adjust to the new circumstances,” Offutt said.
The Green Waste facility and city parks will remain open, although restroom facilities are closed in the parks.
Water, sewer and trash services will continue. Building permits and inspections will continue with a 48-hour notice required. Law enforcement, street maintenance and government administration will also remain unchanged.
If members of the public have an event scheduled during the facility closure and have not heard from a Platte City staff member, call 858-3046. Also between March 16 and May 1, recycling, identity theft prevention event, spring clean-up and youth sports will be canceled or postponed.
Soccer, baseball, tee-ball and softball will be canceled at this time and all registration fees will be refunded. Fees paid online will be refunded back to the card used to make the payment. Fees paid with cash, check or in person at City Hall will be refunded by check.
If sports are able to continue at a later time, fees will be waived for all youth participants for the spring 2020 season of these sports.
Recycling and trash both will be picked up on regularly scheduled solid waste pickup days until further notice. It is not currently possible to maintain staffing levels needed to run separate trash and recycling collection.
The city advises that residents pay utility payments online at www.plattecity.org or by phone at 816-858-3046. Online fees for use of credit/debit cards to pay utility bills have been waived. Utility payments can be mailed to City Hall,400 Main St., Platte City and payments can also be dropped in the drop-off box outside City Hall.
For more information on COVID-19 visit www.plattecity.org, Platte County Health Dept at www.plattecountyhealthdept.com or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov
PARKVILLE
Mayor Nan Johnston announced today that public meetings and city public events would be cancelled beginning March 18, continuing through April 15.
Cancellations include city board and commission meetings and organized events on city property, including an upcoming recycling event and two races in the park. The cancellations are an effort to protect public health by discouraging the assembly of people while the COVID-19 outbreak is occurring.
English Landing Park, Platte Landing Park and neighborhood parks and the nature sanctuaries will remain open.
The city is presently engaged in contingency planning to assure the continuity of government services during the crisis. We have taken steps to protect our employees from exposure and preserve our ability to provide essential services.
In an effort to promote social distancing between the public and our employees, the public is encouraged to transact city business via the telephone, mail, or email. A drive up drop box for sewer bills is located on the north side of City Hall. It may also be used for any city correspondence. The public may contact City Hall at (816) 741-7676, by email at cityhall@parkvillemo.gov, or by mail at 8880 Clark Avenue, Parkville, Mo 64152.
For individuals who have a need to visit City Hall, we ask that they come to the Clark Avenue entrance located on the lower level to City Hall. The lower level lobby will be open to the public and City personnel will be available in glass enclosed reception area. The upper level entrance will be closed to the public.
“We appreciate the understanding of the public as we deal with this unprecedented event,” Johnston said. “The citizens of Parkville are our first priority and we will do all we can to protect them and provide vital services during this urgent time of need. We encourage our citizens to continue to follow the advice of public health officials and to be safe. We will also do our best to keep you informed as we work our way through this.”
WESTON
To be proactive rather than reactive, all special event applications for public events for the next eight weeks have been postponed and no other special events will be approved for that timeframe, according to Weston mayor Steven George.
This is in line with the CDCs current recommendation of no in-person gatherings of 50 or more individuals for eight weeks, as well as the most current recommendation of no in-person gatherings of 10 or more individuals for the next 15 days. This is subject to change as the CDC or Platte County Health Department recommendations change.
Outside of events that require a special event application, George asked businesses consider imposing similar limitations until this situation resolves or until the CDC/PCHD recommendations change.
In addition, until the situation changes, city meetings will be cancelled or postponed, we will be putting a hold on non-essential city spending. City hall and the police station will be closed to the public. This is a proactive measure to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 to our employees — the employees will still be available via telephone or email. The board has approved regular invoices of expenditures as well as payments for our major contractors, based on the engineer’s approval, during this time.
The Weston Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance on March 16 adopting any upcoming recommendations by the Platte County Health Department, but also recognizing that the Board of Aldermen could take further measures, including, but not limited to, the limitation of public gatherings and a quarantine of its citizens.
“I realize that this can put a large strain on our residents and businesses, and to help alleviate some of this, we will not be doing water shutoffs for unpaid water bills until this situation changes,” George said. “I have also instructed our police department to work with the Weston Community Food Pantry and assist with getting necessary food items or supplies out to citizens in need.”
RIVERSIDE
City Hall remains open for business and to serve the public. The city instituted enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures — particularly on our high-frequency touch points.
Hand sanitizer is also in place at public access points to help keep you safe, and your hands clean.
Residents have been encouraged to take advantage of electronic services wherever possible by calling city hall at (816) 741-3993 and our staff is available by email to provide city services. Contact information is available at https://www.riversidemo.com/directory.
Additional steps we are taking to keep everyone safe.
The board meeting on Tuesday, March 17 was held as scheduled but there was enhanced physical separation between attendees and board members. Temperature screening was done on everyone who attended prior to allowing them to access the board Chambers.
All community center activities will be suspended beginning Monday, March 16. Future schedules will be evaluated on a week-by-week basis in consultation with the YMCA.
Riverside Municipal Court will not hold court for the remainder of this month. Cases will be automatically continued to a future date and those with a current court date will receive notices of their new trial date.
Police reports typically handled in person are now done by phone for the time being.