MANSFIELD — Mayor Tim Theaker said his administration, which had a department head planning meeting Friday morning, is working to be preventative and proactive with regard to coronavirus.
“It will not change the level of service the city provides, but it may change the manner in which we provide it,” the mayor said, adding the city remains open for business and is moving forward cautiously.
“We have no cases (COVID-19) reported in the city or the county. We are following the guidelines of the health department.”
Earlier in the day, the city parks and recreation department announced all of its activities and programs are suspended, effective immediately, until further notice.
This includes, but is not limited to, all family craft nights, art in the park, park runs being staged in the pavilion at North Lake Park, park pavilion rentals and all activities and events at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center.
Also on Friday, Finance Director Linn Steward announced the city’s tax office will be closed to the public, effective Monday.
Safety-Service Director Lori Cope said the city has suspended citizen “ride-alongs” with the police and fire departments. She said the police department and fire department will work closely with one another and share information on calls for service that involve both departments.
She said police officers may take more reports over the phone when possible, reducing interaction and potential spread of COVID-19.
“We want to protect the citizens of Mansfield and also our police officers,” she said.
Cope also said the city has ordered additional supplies, including masks and gloves, which are now on back order. She said the administration has placed hand sanitizer on the first three floors of the city building, frequently used by the public.
In terms of city employees, Theaker said department heads have been tasked with determining which workers may be considered high-risk for COVID-19 and to also determine which employees have traveled outside of the state in the six weeks.
He said department heads will work to identify employees who may have school-age children or children with special needs at home.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered all schools in the state closed for three weeks, beginning with the end of the school day Monday.
“We are playing some of this by ear,” Theaker said. “It’s contingent on the three weeks the governor has ordered the schools to be closed. We’re gonna look at everything again and evaluate it April 3 and see where we are.
“We just have to be conscious of anything that changes or transpires.”
