Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Local Examples

Albion

• Acknowledged the Town is following the Governor’s Executive Orders to fight the COVID-19 Virus. Under Executive Order 20-09, the Council and all Town boards/commissions will meet via teleconference until the Governor’s directives are lifted or the Town Council deems it safe to conduct in-person meetings.
• Designated Council President to approve claims/bills during the duration of the pandemic emergency
• Voted for general future directives: “Should there be other national or state orders released, the Town will continue to follow the directives contained in the government orders”
• Designated essential staff and sent non-essential employees on pandemic leave for two weeks

Allen County

• Scaled back capacity at bars, restaurants, and gyms and issued restrictions on gatherings starting November 17, 2020.

Avon

• Created a Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19 that includes basic infection prevention measures for employees, identification and isolation of sick people, and workplace flexibilities and protections
• Established a pandemic leave policy

Bloomington

• On July 20, 2020, Mayor John Hamilton signed an executive order that covers the size of gatherings and how bars can serve their customers
• Accepting applications for financial support through its Rapid Response Fund (RRF) for Bloomington businesses, nonprofits, and cultural organizations that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional items include the Application, Funding Qualification Rules, and Loan Agreement
• City events have been rescheduled or postponed
• Virtual participation in public meetings
• Temporary changes and exceptions to leave policies

Brownsburg

• Directed all non-essential staff not to report to Town facilities for work

• Will waive utility late fees and will not disconnect customers’ utility services through May 17, 2020.

Clarksville

• Donated $50,000 towards the COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Forgivable Loan Program that has been awarded to 37 businesses
• Purchased signs for locally owned businesses to help identify they are still open

Clinton County

• Executive Order from the Board of Commissioners
• Established public meeting procedures and procedure for the board’s ratification of the acts of its members

Columbus / Bartholomew County

• Most city buildings will be closed to the public beginning Monday, November 16 through Sunday, November 29, 2020. The decision will be revisited based on what happens over the next two weeks as we go into December, as we review the level of community spread throughout the county.
• The Columbus/Bartholomew County COVID-19 Community Task Force wrote a letter to Governor Holcomb to support and request the extension of mandatory face coverings on October 6, 2020.

Crown Point

• Updated the Bulldog Park Rental Agreement, the Bulldog Park Nonprofit Room Reservation Form, the Sportsplex Rental/Participant Agreement, and the Parks and Recreation Facility Permit to include COVID-19 language.
• Released an informational flyer for employees about prevention, social distancing, and testing

Culver

• Passed a resolution creating a small business assistance program which will provide grants of up to $7,500 to local businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. Set aside $150,000 for the program.
• Using Microsoft Teams to allow for the council and other boards to conduct meetings as necessary
• Park Department and Culver Academies Wellness Director send out e-mails via a town listserve with activity suggestions or challenges for families (i.e. Scavenger Hunt Bingo and Obstacle Course build) and one local business placed chalk in front of each business in one section of town to encourage people to create encouraging messages or art
• Committed $2,500 to the local food pantry and Blessings in a Backpack program with a goal of raising an additional $2,500 from the community
• Passed a resolution outlining pandemic procedures

Edinburgh

• Restricted town hall access for emergency purposes only

• Suspended all Edinburgh Parks and Recreation activities and access to Sports Complex until April 13, 2020

• Delayed the implementation of the recycle center until April 13, 2020

Elkhart County

• Passed an ordinance to establish incremental civil fines for violations of COVID-19 mitigation directives

Evansville

• Created a video with regional municipal officials encouraging citizens to do their part in stopping the spread of COVID-19. 
• Government executives passed a joint Evansville-Vanderburgh County Emergency Proclamation, allowing closure of our Civic Center Administration Complex to the public.
• Funding partners established a cross-sector, community-wide COVID-19 Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region designed to serve the community through the relief, recovery, and restoration phases typical of large-scale crises to catalyze hope in a time that perpetuates hopelessness and isolation.
• Community organizers created Feed Evansville to provide grab-and-go meals and create a running list of organizations, pantries, and locations for food assistance.
• Community One created the Need a Neighbor initiative to match a person with a need to a person who wants to meet a need.
• The Southwest Indiana Chamber created a resource page for event/facility cancellation and closings, business FAQs, restaurant take-out/delivery list, employee opportunities, local business services and other community resources.
• Recorded brief with local health officials and media

Fishers

• Mayor Fadness announced his plan to lead Fishers through a bold agenda to support the health and economic recovery of Fishers in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
• The $2.5 million Fishers Recovery Plan will launch COVID-19 testing for Fishers residents alongside a comprehensive tracing program and business recovery support programs.
• Declared a Local Emergency
• Set up a Coronavirus Hotline (317-595-3211)
• Established a COVID-19 Data Center

Fort Wayne

• City Council also adopted a public health leave policy currently in effect through May 12, 2020.
• Created a resource webpage.
• Mayor hosts a weekly press conference with the County Commissioners with a different focus each week. Previous topics include hospital systems and assistance to businesses.
• Every Thursday night, Fort Wayne United has been cohosting virtual forums with City Life on Facebook Live to highlight the impact on minority populations.

Gary

• Executive Order on March 19, 2020, allowing essential city offices and departments to remain operational but also allowing certain employees to work remotely until further notice

• Those employees shall receive pay for their regularly scheduled non-overtime work hours

Greenwood

• The City of Greenwood passed an ordinance to extend federal emergency paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave provisions related to COVID-19. 
• The City of Greenwood has closed its City Center building to visitors. City government remains fully operational.
• Parks and Recreation department has gone virtual with a daily live Facebook broadcast and YouTube channel where staff livestreams activities, from virtual science to bingo
• Executive Order for Stay-at-Home Guidelines for COVID-19 Pandemic on April 2, 2020
• Police and Fire Departments are offering pharmacy pickup and delivery for residents, particularly the elderly and those unable to get out by themselves
• Passed an ordinance to allow for paid time off without utilizing PTO in the event an employee cannot work from home and must be quarantined
• Created a separate pay code to track the quarantined time

Goshen

• Issued a Stay at Home Order for Certain City of Goshen Employees on April 17, 2020
• Amended the 2020 Compensation Ordinance to include Declared Emergency Paid Leave
• Executive Order of Stay at Home Order for Certain City of Goshen Employees on April 2, 2020
• Authorized Mayor to enter contracts for COVID-19 emergency response efforts
• Executive order to limit access to city facilities
• Employees can take sick leave during Governor Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-08
• Sending out special editions of the MapleCityNow in reference to COVID-19

Hammond

• Issued a notice of electronic meeting and information to allow the public to attend electronically

Highland

• Made a proclamation of the municipal executive to find and expressing a finding and determination that an emergency exists and declaring a local disaster emergency
• Established an enactment expressing a finding and determination that an emergency exists and declaring a local disaster emergency and conferring special authority on the municipal executive of the town
• Previously adopted code under the general authority to pay accounts payable vouchers in advance of board or commission allowance

Huntingburg

• Issued a Quarantine Due to Personal Travel notice to staff

Huntington

• Mayor Strick signed an executive order that adds additional restrictions. Police can fine individuals for not wearing masks. The fine starts at $25 and increases in $50 increments.
• Prepared an Internal City Operations Preparedness Plan
• Sent a letter to Department Heads and Employees with information concerning their COVID-19 Sick Bank, Response Planning Team, and Prepardness Plan

Canton, OH

• Contingency planning and adjustments in day-to-day operations
• Encouraging more transactions by email and less face to face
• Announced that they may restrict public events

Detroit, MI

• Pledged that there will be no water service interruption
• State will cover first 30 days
• After the first month, customers will be required to pay the $25 per month until the COVID-19 outbreak passes.

Menlo Park, CA

• Declared local emergency
• City facilities, including senior and childcare centers, are closed
• Suspended municipal programs

Newbury, MA

• Closed municipal facilities including Town Hall, Library, and the Council on Aging • Asking that all public meetings be cancelled or postponed