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The original item was published from 9/21/2020 4:03:00 PM to 9/23/2020 4:03:11 PM.

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Posted on: March 17, 2020

[ARCHIVED] City of Harrisonville takes steps to prevent spread of COVID-19

Stock photo of Coronavirus with City logo

In response to COVID-19 concerns, the City of Harrisonville is taking additional steps to ensure the health of our community and the continuity of City services. 

As of September 21, there have been 197 known cases of COVID-19 in Harrisonville, and 1,488 cases have been reported in Cass County. Tragically, 21 people have died, as a result of COVID-19. Click here to view the Cass County Health Department’s community-case numbers.

UPDATE FROM MAY 1

On Monday, April 27, Governor Mike Parson implemented Phase I of his Missouri Show-Me Strong Recovery Order, which will be in effect from 12:01 a.m., Monday, May 4, 2020, through Sunday, May 31, 2020. Shortly after the Governor’s announcement, Cass County announced that they will be adopting and implementing the guidance from Phase I of the Governor Parson’s strategic reopening of Missouri’s economy. The order directs local public health authorities (Cass County Health Department) to carry out and enforce each provision of the order. 

As part Phase I, Harrisonville businesses will be able to open on May 4, with modifications to their normal operations.

While businesses in Harrisonville will be allowed to reopen on May 4, City facilities will remain closed until Monday, May 11, in an effort to ensure that all departments have put the proper safeguards in place to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The Harrisonville Community Center will also remain closed until May 11.

If you have Harrisonville-specific questions about Governor Mike Parson’s Missouri Show-Me Strong Recovery Order, we have created a resource to provide you with answers.

Both commercial tenants and residents will be able to email questions to hvillestrong@harrisonville.com or leave questions as a message at (816) 380-8965. Once a question is received, it will be quickly distributed to a select group of City officials who will respond with an answer in line with the Governor’s order.

This resource will be monitored closely but we do ask that you be patient while we work to get you an accurate and timely answer.

                                                                                                                                                 

On March 21, the Cass County Health Department declared the COVID-19 pandemic to be a public health emergency for Cass County. Click here to read the full emergency order.

Click here for information about the COVID-19 outbreak’s effect in Cass County.

Following guidance from the Cass County Health Department, who has recommended limiting public gatherings to no more than 10 persons, the City of Harrisonville will close all facilities indefinitely. The City is further encouraging residents to refrain from public gatherings, regardless of the number in attendance.

Click here for information about avoiding and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

During this time the City encourages residents and customers to take advantage of online City services including payment of City utility bills and court fines. 

Checks or money orders can be mailed or left in the drop box located on the front of City Hall, located at 300 E Pearl Street. Credit or debit cards can be used to make payments online by selecting the online payment option or by phone by calling 1-833-227-1750. Residents may also set up Autopay, which will schedule a payment to draft directly from a checking account on the 15th of each month, without any additional fees.

The City of Harrisonville encourages residents not to use cash during this time. But, for those who do plan to continue using cash, please make sure to put the customer name or account number on the envelope that the cash is in. Without the name or account number, it will be impossible for staff to know which account the payment should be applied to. Please NEVER drop loose cash into the dropbox.

Click here for more information about Autopay.

To encourage customers to maintain the Center for Disease Control’s social distancing recommendations, the City had (temporarily) removed the $4 credit card convenience charge for those customers paying online or by phone. These charges were reinstated on July 1, 2020.

Click here for information about water and wastewater safety during the COVID-19 outbreak.

During this time, the City encourages the use of resources available on the City’s website. Online services include certain permits, business license applications, payment of utility bills and court fines.

Click here to apply for City utility services.

Those with utility billing questions are asked to call (816) 380-8900.

During this time, our Public Works Department wants to share with you this important reminder from our friends at St. Louis MSD Project Clear.


PUBLIC MEETINGS

In an effort to maintain the above-mentioned social-distancing requirements, all City public meetings will, for the foreseeable future, be conducted through a remote, online service. 

This will begin with the Board of Aldermen meeting on Monday, April 6. 

During each meeting, City elected officials and staff will meet during the regularly scheduled time, via video conference. Residents will be able to attend the meetings via phone, with a number and access code that will be provided on each meeting’s agenda. 

The recorded meeting will be published on the City’s YouTube channel within 48 hours of the meeting’s end.

The current rules for public participation and conduct will continue to be enforced at each meeting.

Scheduled City Board and Commission meetings, without necessary action items, will be canceled or postponed during this time. For information about which meetings have been canceled or postponed, please visit the calendar on the City website.

Anyone with questions about a City public meeting, is asked to call City Clerk Randall Jones (816) 380-8916.

MUNICIPAL COURT

On April 2, Judge William Collins issued an administrative order canceling all municipal court dockets in the 17th Circuit from April 2, through May 31.

Staff will be reassigning each case to a future docket and will be working to notify attorneys and defendants, by mail summons, of their new court dates.

Defendants who have a Stay of Execution on payment of their fines for the April 15, May 6, or May 13 dockets will still need to make a minimum payment of $100 by that date. Defendants who are unable to make the minimum payment must call the court (816) 380-8903.  A letter will also be mailed to these defendants.

During this time, payments can be made online, over the phone by calling 1-877-222-0377, mailed in or put in the Utilities Drop-Box at City Hall, located on the outside wall at 300 E Pearl Street, (Please clearly mark the envelope "For Court").

Those with Municipal Court questions are asked to call (816) 380-8903.

This is a very fluid situation and the City will continue to evaluate all services and policies.

Due to social distancing recommendations from public health experts surrounding COVID-19, the City is taking additional steps to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

HARRISONVILLE PARKS & RECREATION

Parks and Recreation has postponed all recreational programming, activities, leagues, events, childcare and rentals, including all adult and youth activities, fitness classes and paid programming. The Harrisonville Community Center will be closed effective March 18 through March 29. Shelter rentals have also been canceled. Parks and Recreation will work with the Youth Sports Associations as they determine their course of action for spring programs.

As part of these closures, the Cass County Council on Aging, following a recommendation from the Mid-America Regional Council, announced Friday that they will be closing the Senior Center at Harrisonville Community Center, starting Monday, March 16, for the remainder of the month of March (March 31). Officials say the Meals on Wheels program will continue.

The South Metro Youth Sports League, which includes Harrisonville, Peculiar, Pleasant Hill, Raymore and Belton, has decided to delay the start of spring youth sports until April 13. On March 27, this decision will be reassessed to determine if leagues are safe to resume.

HARRISONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Harrisonville Police Department lobby entrance, located at 205 N Lexington Street, will remain open for the time being. Residents are encouraged to contact the department by phone or email, to maintain CDC social distancing recommendations (816) 380-8929. If a change is made in that regard, the public will be notified.

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The City asks members of our community to be diligent in the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas and to take measures to facilitate proper social distancing (give six feet).

Residents should stay informed and ensure they are receiving information from reliable sources. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Cass County Health Department offer up-to-date information on their websites and social media. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has activated a 24/7 phone hotline for the public or providers to receive information or guidance related to COVID-19. The hotline is reached at 877-435-8411. A COVID-19 information page is available at www.harrisonville.com with prevention tips, CDC videos and links to information sources.

Please continue to monitor the City website, social media pages and community engagement tools, such as Nixle, for updates on the situation, as it pertains to City facilities. 

To sign up to have City information sent directly to your mobile phone or email, we recommend residents register for Nixle. As a resident, there are three simple ways to register:

1.    Text your ZIPCODE to 888-777 from your mobile phone.

2.    Go to www.nixle.com, enter your ZIPCODE in the search bar, and then on the next page, click the Sign Up button.

3.    Using the widget at the bottom of the www.harrisonville.com home page.

Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation text to their mobile device. Residents may also customize their alert settings by going to www.nixle.com and creating a User Profile. 

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