2020/03/24 - Mayor's Column: Update on COVID-19
“An Open Door to O’Fallon”
A Weekly Note from Mayor Herb Roach
Our Country, State and City are going through trying times with the current emergency declarations, particularly the Governor’s “Shelter in Place” Executive Order. Like many communities, we are working through this period of time with the goal of keeping our employees and citizens safe and continuing to provide the necessary services that you need.
City services are considered essential by the Governor’s Executive Order. We have a responsibility to maintain the quality of services that we deliver, including but not limited to police, fire, EMS, and water and sewer utilities.
We have been working on this scenario for weeks now. While we hoped that it wouldn’t have to come to this, we were prepared for the Executive Order. We are trying to be proactive and not panicking as we work through this. Panic never solves a problem.
I would like to ask everyone to take all of the precautions that have been recommended by the CDC when it comes to you and your family’s safety by doing such things as avoiding crowds, keeping safe distances and washing your hands and/or using sanitizers frequently.
We have citizens and local businesses that are having a hard time during this period due shutdowns, people not traveling, and loss of income. Please keep these businesses in mind. Small businesses are an important part of this community and they are trying to adapt and make the best of a bad situation. Also, If you can help donate time, goods or money to our local food bank, churches and other charitable organizations that are trying to help feed our local citizens that would be appreciated.
This is also a very unique time for everyone involved but especially for our first responders. We are asking them to take extra precautions as they carry out their daily responsibilities so that you are properly cared for and they are not negatively impacted. This is a time when these ladies and gentlemen are so important to all of us, so we do not want to see them unnecessarily exposed to anything that takes them away from their family or ability to answer the call.
I also want to thank our schools for helping to supply meals to many of the children that depend on them. Plus, a big thanks to all our health care workers.
I have appreciated the very positive and supportive comments that I have heard from many of you. We will get past this and our City will be back to normal soon but how soon depends upon everyone’s cooperation and effort.
Even though we have stopped public access to our offices, they are all staffed to help you, so please give us a call or send us an e-mail if you have any questions are concerns. We are making contingency plans of action so that we can deal with situations as they change.
After discussions with our legal counsel and the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, I have signed an Emergency Declaration for our city so that we can respond quickly to the changes that are coming down from the national and state agencies and so our City can potentially get reimbursed for emergency expenditures relating to the COVID-19.
We will also try to keep you informed to the changes as they occur through our website and Facebook. TOGETHER OUR CITY WILL COME THROUGH THIS IN A POSITIVE MANNOR.
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open (virtually, at least)!