Santiam Canyon area cities are complying with Gov. Kate Brown’s March 23 call to “Stay Safe, Stay Home” to all Oregonians to stop the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.
Stayton
In a press release issued March 23, the city of Stayton called the health and safety of its citizens its priority.
“It looks like April 28 may be the earliest date, but at this point it would be inappropriate to speculate on when things will return to normal,” said Keith Campbell, city manager about the expected duration of the
stay-at-home order.
“We are at a critical point in terms of protecting the most at-risk portions of our community, the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions.”
Until further notice, the city will be closing the public lobbies of City Hall, Public Works and Planning. The Stayton Police Department lobby will remain open with access to a public restroom and emergency phone.
Additionally, the Stayton Public Library, Stayton Family Memorial Pool, and Stayton Municipal Court are closed. All activities at the library and pool are cancelled. Anyone with business at the Stayton Municipal Court must contact the court at 503-769-2668.
City officials reported “critical functions of the City of Stayton will continue. The police department will continue serving and protecting the community. Our water and wastewater plants will continue to be fully operational. Our public works crews will be available to address critical infrastructure needs.”
City staff in all departments are available via phone to accept payments and answer questions. Additionally a payment drop box is on the wall outside the Stayton Police Department.
City officials took these steps to “limit direct interaction where COVID-19 could be shared or spread. These actions are for the safety and well-being of our community.”
For updates, check the city’s Facebook page or visit www.staytonoregon.gov.
Sublimity
Sublimity officials are working with a coronavirus mitigation plan, too.
“The city of Sublimity is still working, just in a different format,” said Mayor Jim Kingsbury. “The City Hall lobby is closed and the office staff is working from home, coming into the office only as needed. Public Works is working, practicing social distancing.
“We are following all the executive orders from Governor Brown’s office,” he added. “I am using the Oregon Health Authority website as a resource for tracking this pandemic.”
Sublimity began to take precautionary measures by sanitizing city facilities and having hand sanitizer available to staff and customers, he said.
Residents are urged to limit their exposure to Sublimity City Hall and make payments via one of the two drop boxes available in front of the building and/or the online services available on the city website.
“We will be waiving any late fees for persons who are unable to make it into City Hall to make their payment in a timely manner,” Kingsbury said. “Please call and work out any arrangements that need to be made.”
All public meetings will be rescheduled after April 28, and any announcements or closures will be posted to NextDoor Sublimity, the Sublimity Facebook page, and the city website.
“The city council is prepared to act quickly if needed by using teleconferencing as a means to a public meeting,” Kingsbury said. “Myrna Harding, finance manager for the city of Sublimity, has our budget for FY 20-21 completed, and we will look at pushing the budget meetings back by a few weeks. We will have a Planning Commission Public Hearing on March 30 that Randy Cranston will by chairing via a teleconference.”
Kingsbury said the city has been in contact with Sublimity Medical Clinic to let them know Sublimity is prepared to help in any way that might be needed.
“We have a lot of great businesses that will need our support when this pandemic has passed,” he said.
“They are the lifeblood of our community!”
Aumsville
Aumsville City Hall and the Police Department lobby are closed to the public. Residents are asked to use the drop box or make payments online if possible. Call 503-749-2030 during regular business hours if assistance is needed.
“The health and well being of our customers and staff is our utmost concern during this difficult time,” said Ron Harding, city administrator, on the latest website update. “We are taking this seriously and practicing the following precautions to keep everyone as healthy and safe as possible.”
Closed are all events, rentals and activities in the Community Center; council meetings, budget 101 work session; Planning Commission meetings; the annual Easter Egg Hunt, formerly slated for April 11; and the Arbor Day Celebration and Tree Planting, originally planned for April 22.
Residents are advised to call 503-749-2188 for non-emergencies. Response calls for service will be handled over the phone unless personal contact is required.
Mill City
Mill City is “trying to operate as normal as possible,” Stacie Cook, city recorder said March 24.
“We’ve put up notices at the park, we are still at work, we still have City Hall open,” Cook said. “We are still having our city council meeting this evening.”
Cook said the city is following mandates set down by Gov. Brown’s executive order of March 23, specifically having people keep 6 feet apart.
“We can’t say what happens next month,” Cook said. “Or what we’ll have to deal with… It’s a slow time of the month, and not too many people will come in here,” she added. “People are not out and about as much as they could be.”
Meanwhile, all other city meetings for Mill City, as well as Gates and Lyons, have been cancelled.
