Local officials across the county are limiting public access to government buildings in response to growing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.
The Town of New Whiteland announced Tuesday that all town buildings will be closed to the public starting today. Any business or payments that need to be made can be placed in a drop box outside the town hall, or submitted on the town’s website. Town employees will still work regular hours, according to a news release.
Other local communities are following similar protocols. In Franklin, the city imposed restrictions on the public entering any city building unless absolutely necessary, Mayor Steve Barnett said.
Most city buildings are locked on the outside now with drop boxes for residents to conduct business or pay bills. Only the front doors to City Hall on Monroe Street are open. In that entry lobby, residents will find forms with information they may need to complete their needs by phone or email. If someone needs further assistance, they can call and an employee will come to the door and assist them, Barnett said.
“Social distancing — that’s what we’re trying to do,” he said. “We don’t want to totally shut down to the public. We want the public to be safe, we want the city workers to be safe and we just want to remain efficient.”
Greenwood residents can pay bills online or use similar drop boxes located outside its city buildings, Mayor Mark Myers said. Online payments have increased over the past week, he said.
Documents that need to be submitted to the engineering department can be uploaded on the city’s Board of Public Works website, Myers said. Day-to-day, in-person meetings between employees and the public have also stopped. But residents with questions can still call any of the city departments, he said.
“We’re still running at full staff. We can still handle everything,” Myers said. “We just ask that the public be discrete when coming into the city buildings.”
The Town of Edinburgh will not allow public access to any of its buildings until April 13, unless there is an emergency, said JT Doane, town manager. Residents were asked on Monday to begin paying all bills online or over the phone. The town hall is staffed with employees to answer questions over the phone during normal business hours. The town council will reconvene on April 13 to discuss if those restrictions need to be extended, he said.
Bargersville has not officially closed its town offices to the public, but they have encouraged residents to pay bills online and call the town hall with any questions.
Whiteland is still business as usual, for now, town manager Norm Gabehart said.
