MADISON COUNTY — The Town of Pendleton is staying the course with its COVID-19 response, keeping town hall and other town facilities closed to the public with most employees working from home and on call as needed.
“Really, everything is going along pretty good,” town council President Chet Babb said.
He said calls to Town Hall are being routed to the appropriate people and taken care of as far as he can tell.
The playground at Falls Park is closed, town workers responding to calls are not allowed to drive together in vehicles, and there are plenty of sanitizing products at town hall for the few employees who are working some hours in the office.
“I don’t know what else to do in these strange times,” Babb said, describing his position toward COVID-19 safeguards as firm.
“I’d rather people be upset with me for being too strict than not being strict enough,” Babb said.
Babb said all regular town meetings remain canceled and that any meeting that takes place will be a special meeting. The town sent out a notice early this week that a special town council meeting was planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at Town Hall.
The only item on the agenda was listed under new business: “Ordinance 20-10: An Ordinance Extending Emergency Paid Sick Leave in Response to Covid-19.”
The town has publicized that meetings are being streamed live on Facebook.
In other news, acting town manager Rachel Christenson is scheduled to speak, along with other civic leaders, about COVID-19 response at a Madison County Chamber of Commerce webinar set for 2 p.m. Friday, April 10.
Visit “Madison County Chamber | Central Indiana” on Facebook for more details.
Town of Markleville
In Markleville, town council President Daniel Roseberry said if social distancing restrictions go past April, the town may look into holding virtual meetings in which council members and town department heads will convene online.
“There has been some discussion (of virtual meetings), but there wasn’t much appeal to it,” Roseberry said. “We’re slow enough right now that (it hasn’t been a problem).”
Town of Ingalls
On the town’s website, as well as its Facebook page, Ingalls announced that with the extended stay-at-home order given by Gov. Eric Holcomb, employees working at town hall will continue operating on a limited schedule to at least April 20. Also, in observance of Easter, the office will be closed on April 10 (Good Friday).
Town council President Scot Lawyer said Monday’s water/storm meeting and town council meeting have been canceled. The next scheduled meetings are slated for April 27, though Lawyer said those meeting could also end up being canceled.
