FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2020
Contact: Polly Bray
Phone: 765-456-7444
Email: pbray@cityofkokomo.org
City of Kokomo cancels public meetings due to COVID-19 until April 20, 2020
The City of Kokomo’s top priority is the health, safety and welfare of its residents, visitors and employees. As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to impact the City of Kokomo, the administration is prepared to respond.
Mayor Tyler Moore and City of Kokomo department heads have been developing plans and policies that ensure the safe and efficient delivery of all public services while minimizing possibilities for the transmission of COVID-19. In light of the foregoing, the City of Kokomo is immediately canceling all public meetings until April 20th, 2020 in order to reduce unnecessary interactions and exposure to the virus. These include, but are not limited to the following:
- Aviation Commission
- Board of Park Trustees
- Board of Public Works and Safety
- Board of Zoning Appeals
- Cemetery Board
- Economic Development Commission
- Historic Review Board
- Human Rights Commission
- Kokomo Common Council
- Kokomo Redevelopment Commission
- Plan Commission
- Revolving Loan Fund Board
- Traffic Commission
Any future essential public meetings, such as Kokomo Common Council and Board of Public Works and Safety, may be held on an “as-needed” basis until normally scheduled meetings resume on April 20th, 2020. In the event of such meeting, if necessary, the City of Kokomo shall publish notice of the date, time, and place of said meeting at least forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) before the meeting in accordance with I.C. § 5-14-1.5-5. Additionally, these meetings will be broadcast live on KGOV2 and via Facebook in order to offer alternative viewing options for residents.
“Our community is united in confronting an unprecedented public health crisis, and experts agree responsible individual and public action to thwart this contagion is social distancing,” said Kokomo Common Council President Lynn Rudolph. “Therefore, our Kokomo City Council is suspending business meetings effective immediately for a period of four weeks, which is in concert with state and county government recommendations, after which time a reevaluation of our community best interests will again be contemplated.”
At this time, public access to City Hall will only be available for non-employees in the lobby of the Kokomo Police Department on the first floor. Outlying offices will be required to restrict all public access. Residents are encouraged to communicate via email or phone with departments.
The City of Kokomo is cooperating with the Governor’s Office, the Indiana State Department of Health, the Howard County Health Department and Howard County Government in order to refine and amend the abovementioned guidelines as circumstances require.
For accurate updates on COVID-19 in Indiana, please visit the Indiana State Department of Health’s website at www.in.gov/isdh or call ISDH Epidemiology Resource Center at 317-233-7125 (317-233-1325 after hours).
The local situation is continuously changing, and the City of Kokomo will be communicating updates to local media, at www.cityofkokomo.org and through social media. These updates will include any potential changes to services the City of Kokomo provides.
