WORTHING, S.D. (KELO.com) — The City of Worthing is locking its city hall door because of COVID-19.
Lincoln County reported its first case of coronavirus yesterday. Worthing is in Lincoln County in the middle of Lennox, Harrisburg and Canton.
The city’s mayor asks residents to conduct business via telephone and online.
They’ve also asked local bars and cafes to provide takeout or drive-up deliveries.
Here’s the City’s statement on their Facebook page:
From Mayor Bradley J. Hazuka
We now have a confirmed case of COVID 19 in Lincoln county. Per the document and procedures the City Council discussed on Monday night, the city will be locking the door to City Hall.
City Hall services will only be available to citizens via phone and email. Planning and Zoning inspections will be put on hold. Maintenance duties will continue, but employees will minimize contact with the public. City staff will do their best to wipe down high contact areas regularly. I have included a copy of the document outlining the plan in its entirety in this email.
Several communities around us have enacted legislation closing down businesses where larger groups gather. I have discussed this with all the commission members, and via a straw poll, we have decided that we will ask our gathering places (Boondocks, Kim’s Corner, and Blue Sky Junction) to voluntarily follow CDC recommendations and limit themselves to no more than 10 people in the establishment at any one time.
We are hopeful that the businesses will self regulate by offering off-sale liquor and curbside delivery of food instead of dine-in and minimize public contact with their staff. Commissioner Bernie Zahn has graciously volunteered to talk to these businesses on the commission’s behalf.
With the closing of businesses around us, we will continue to monitor and access the impact on our town as we go forward. If we feel that self-regulation is not working, we will look at doing an emergency session to enact legislation similar to the communities around us.
If you have any questions, please let me know.Bradley J. HazukaMayor, City of Worthinghttp://cityofworthing.commayor@cityofworthing.com(605) 610-8254
(Liz Ryan, KELO.com News, contributed to this report.)
