Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson restricts access to public buildings
Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson held a press conference Friday afternoon to explain some of the changes in the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the press conference, Roberson gave an update on what the city is doing to keep employees and the public safe.
The steps include closing all city buildings and indoor park facilities to the general public. Employees will still be working, but the public will not be allowed entry.
No cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Elkhart County as of March 20, but testing is being conducted.
City employees are sanitizing things like crosswalk buttons, benches, parks, city building doors and chairs.
For now, he's asking the public to refrain from gatherings with more than 50 people and city employees are keeping groups to under 10 people.
He plans to provide updates to residents every Tuesday for as long as necessary.
Roberson signed an executive order for restricting the public's access to public buildings as of March 23.
Public access will be prohibited to the following buildings:
- Streets Department
- Buildings & Grounds
- Human Resources; other than dropping off an application
- Airport Office
- Cemetery
- Public Utilities (Drive-thru bill payments 8:30-4:30)
- National New York Central Railroad Museum
- Lerner Theatre
- Elkhart Environmental Center
- Fire Station office
- 911 Communications Center
- Parks Department; all pavilions closed, restricting use of playground equipment
- The following offices will be open, but for restricted hours 8:00am – 12:00pm:
- Public Works for permitting only
- City Hall with the exception of evening court and council meetings
Additional information:
Meetings will be limited to those that need to be held to conduct city business. They will be live-streamed to maintain public access.
On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, a special session of the Elkhart City Council will be held to implement further emergency measures.