SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — Pendleton Town Hall closed to the public more than two weeks ago in an effort to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
This week, as Madison County Health Department announced the third case of the virus in the county and Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a stay-at-home order, the town continues to take further action to limit the disease.
“I’ve got to protect the town employees as well as the public,” Pendleton Town Council President Chet Babb said.
As of Monday morning, most town employees were permitted to start working from home, with just two people working at Town Hall, 100 W. State St., on separate floors.
The move was previously discussed with department heads, and a related special council meeting is set for 6 p.m. today, Thursday, March 26, in the Town Hall conference room. Babb will be the only council member present. Other council members will be teleconferenced in.
The meeting will be open to the public, but Babb said he will limit the total number of people in the room to 10. The town plans to live stream the meeting on Facebook and elsewhere.
The meeting will be “short and sweet” Babb said, with two items on the agenda: Approving another local emergency declaration and amending the salary ordinance to allow staff to work from home.
All regular town meetings remain canceled until further notice.
Holcomb’s stay-at-home order, which started Tuesday and runs through April 6, included exceptions for things such as work deemed essential, taking care of others, getting necessary supplies, and for health and safety. It also stresses organizations should do everything possible to allow people to work from home and restrict interactions with others. It built on previous state orders to limit public activity.
Pendleton employees will be working and expected to be on-call as needed during regular work hours, Babb said.
The town normally has a rotation of people on call during nights and weekends in case of emergency, and a similar plan remains in place.
Residents who need to make utility payments can do so at a drop box attached to Town Hall or online.
For town business, people are directed to call Town Hall at 765-778-2173 and leave a message if necessary.
Town of Ingalls
During the coronavirus pandemic, the town of Ingalls is updating residents through its web site (townofingalls.us) and Facebook page.
It was announced on the town site it is shutting off all public traffic into town hall.
Town council president Scot Lawyer signed a State of Emergency declaration for Ingalls on Friday. It went into effect Monday.
The release on the town’s web site stated, “Our concerns are to keep the office staff safe as well as the public.”
Residents can pay utility bills at at a drop box located in the vestibule just inside town hall.The drop box is open 24 hours. Residents can also play utility bills on line at www.townofingalls.us as well as over the phone with debit or credit card at 317-485-4321, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Lawyer said he also wanted to remind residents that the Fall Creek Regional Waste District offices have been closed since March 17.
According to the business’ website, sewer bills can be paid online at fcrwd.com. Checks and money orders can be left in the drop box located on the brick wall outside the main gate or mailed to PO Box 59, Pendleton, IN, 46064-0059.
Best Way Disposal is suspending all “heavy trash pickup days” until further notice. Best Way’s office is operating but remains closed to the public and is not accepting cash, according to the Ingalls’ website.
The town’s Facebook page is updating residents regularly concerning COVID-19, town meeting dates and school closings.
The Ingalls Fire Department, through its Facebook page, said it is available to help senior citizens in the community to assist with grocery shopping or delivery of hot meals.
The statement on its page, which was shared to the Town of Ingalls Facebook page, came from Chief Seth Smith.
And, it added, “We are more than willing to drive to the restaurant of choice, pick up food items and deliver them to our (senior) citizens. The Town of Ingalls and the Ingalls Fire Department are here for you and your loved ones during this time.”
Lawyer said, “For anyone in the community, especially our older residents, our fire department, police department, myself or anyone of our employees, if you need any type of assistance with groceries or medicine, we’ll make sure someone is available.
“Looking after our seniors in the community is my No. 1 priority,” Lawyer added.
The town did have its scheduled council meeting on Monday with two council members on site and others participating through a conference call. Lawyer said it would be brief, pertaining primarily to policies from the emergency order and how they would be paying employees. No department updates nor old/new business would be discussed.
Lawyer said the meeting would abide by Governor Eric Holcomb’s mandate of no meetings over 10 people.
Town of Lapel
Lapel Town Council approved a seven-day declaration of local emergency at an online meeting March 19. The declaration can be extended for a longer period.
Council president Chad Blake, vice-president Tom Marvel and deputy-clerk Paula Lee were at town hall — which has been closed off to public traffic until further notice — while other council members, town employees and residents joined by phone or computer.
With the declaration of the town emergency and closing of town hall, payments usually made in person must be made online or through the on-site drive-up window.
“Thanks for being patient with us and figuring this whole thing out as it goes,” Blake said following the meeting. “The world changed five times today, and I’m sure it will change tomorrow.”
On the town Facebook page, Police Chief Kelly Naselroad said he wanted to assure residents that during this time of emergency, he and his department would continue responding to emergency calls and that they have taken measures to keep officers and residents safe and to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The chief added that some of the measures taken includes temporarily suspending some services, such as motor vehicle and golf cart inspections, payment of handgun permit fees (noting those in danger of having a permit expire can call the police department from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.), walk-ins and local background checks.
He said reports that are non-emergency can be taken over the phone (theft, minor property damage). The police department phone number is 765-534-4600.
Town of Markleville
The Town of Markleville posted on its web site (Markleville.in.gov) on March 18 that all of public meetings and town activities are suspended until further notice, and residents with questions can call town hall at 765-533-2354.
Town council president Daniel Roseberry said, “Safety of our residents is priority No. 1 for the town council of Markleville.”
Markleville does not have a lot of town businesses, Roseberry said, but Big Mart Gas Station remains open and The Liquor Shed, which is not open for customers to come inside, is providing curbside service.
The town has closed Markleville Park.
As prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Roseberry said residents can make their sewer payment at the town office’s drop box.
