Local leaders joined state leaders today in ordering residents in Franklin and Greenwood to stay home.
Johnson County Commissioner Brian Baird said the board of commissioners is not ready to issue a countywide order, but continues to strongly encourage residents to stay home. Town managers do not carry executive powers, so town councils must decide whether the county’s five towns will impose similar orders.
Johnson County elected officials, Whiteland Town Manager Norm Gabehart and Aspire Johnson County held a virtual news conference Thursday to announce local stay-at-home orders, which are all in effect until May 1. As of Thursday, the statewide stay-at-home order was set to end Tuesday.
Like the order issued by Holcomb, the local orders “require residents to remain in their homes except when they are at work or for permitted activities, such as taking care of others, obtaining necessary supplies, and for health and safety,” Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers said.
Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett said the leaders made this decision jointly to present a united front with state leaders against COVID-19.
“Local leaders throughout the county have been on the same page since day one and continue to have a great working relationship,” Barnett said. “We want to protect our citizens and remain aligned with previous orders given at the state level. Governor Holcomb and his team have done a tremendous job, and we agree with their approach to limit (the) spread of this terrible virus.”
As with the state’s order, municipal orders echo the following:
- Essential businesses and services are permitted to stay open; including grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, police stations, fire stations, hospitals, doctor’s offices, health care facilities, garbage pickup and public transit;
- Restaurants are permitted to remain open for takeout and delivery only;
- Non-essential businesses are instructed to close unless employees are able to work from home.
At the time of the announcement, Johnson County had 126 COVID-19 infections, which signaled to officials that it was time to do something more to protect public health, Myers said.
“Confirmed cases of the coronavirus have increased to a point where maximum precaution is needed,” Myers said. “This is a fluid situation, and we expect the rapidly shifting landscape to persist for the foreseeable future. No matter what happens, we must remember we are all in this together.”
Johnson County residents are strongly encouraged to follow these orders given the increasing COVID-19 infection rate, Baird said.
“Experts are predicting another two to four weeks before reaching peak infection, which means things are only going to get worse. Taking action now can lessen the negative impact as we near and cross that peak period,” Baird said.
The commissioners will likely discuss a stay-at-home order at its April 13 meeting, but it is unclear if they will have two members who reach the same decision, Baird said. While all three commissioners agree that residents should stay home, they are divided on whether it is their job as elected officials to regulate freedom of movement, he said.
During a special meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner Ron West said he was distraught about the statewide order, which he said is a slippery slope toward liberal policies akin to something one would see in Venezuela.
West also opposes requiring all state residents to stay home, saying that people under 60 should still be reporting to work, he said.
Commissioner Kevin Walls was quiet during a discussion about extending the closure of county buildings, and has not expressed a public opinion on stay-at-home orders.
Baird on Thursday was still wrestling with the issue of a stay-at-home order. While he knows the outbreak warrants action, he said, he is concerned a stay-at-home order could create a slippery slope of taking away freedoms in the future.
While residents are encouraged to stay home unless they have essential business, they are permitted to go out for recreation, Whiteland Town Manager Norm Gabehart said.
“Our parks, trails and golf courses all remain open, with the exception of playground equipment,” Gabehart said. “There are plenty of ways to get fresh air, exercise and stay healthy during this time. Please be safe and practice social distancing while doing so, especially if you are part of an at-risk population.”
After seeing young people riding around in cars together and groups of people playing golf, Baird encouraged people to take social distancing more seriously, he said.
Johnson County residents were also encouraged to support local businesses, said Christian Maslowski, Aspire Johnson County’s president and CEO.
“Our local businesses need us now more than ever,” Maslowski said. “We encourage folks who are fortunate to not have income disruption to buy gift cards, keep their subscriptions and buy now, but pick up later. Your support can literally help save a local business.”
