Staff Reports
GREENFIELD — Hancock County government is scaling back operations in many of its offices in response to the coronavirus pandemic and also is calling for only essential travel.
Beginning today (March 18) and continuing indefinitely, county offices will be closed to the public except by appointment. County department heads will have the discretion to allow their employees to work from home if possible or, if not, to send home non-essential employees. The procedure change applies to all county departments, including the planning department and the offices of the county clerk, assessor, recorder and treasurer.
Citizens who need to schedule a meeting should contact the department by phone.
County commissioners Marc Huber and Brad Armstrong (commissioner John Jessup was absent) voted at their meeting on Tuesday, March 17, to allow the emergency measures. If department heads opt to send home employees who are not able to work from home, those workers can continue to receive pay.
Other agencies are shutting down services as well. Many town offices throughout the county are now closed. The Hancock County Library Board voted unanimously at a meeting Tuesday to close its main branch and Sugar Creek branch. The Fortville-Vernon Township Library is closed as well.
County courts will be shutting down except for essential hearings required to comply with defendants’ constitutional rights.
The commissioners also voted to put the county on an “orange” emergency alert, a scale typically used in the county for weather-related emergencies. The orange level means that “conditions are threatening to the safety of the public” and only essential travel is recommended — driving to and from work and in emergency situations.
The only higher alert level is red, which would restrict travel to emergency personnel only.
Library closures
The Hancock County Public Library closed to the public at noon Tuesday, until further notice, following in step with the majority of library systems throughout the state.
“What a long sleepless week it’s been,” said director Dave Gray, as the board of trustees convened just before noon Tuesday. “Nearly every library in the state is closed.”
Just like all city and county entities, library leaders had been grappling this week with when to shutter its doors. They had already canceled programs and group events through May 10.
In addition to voting to close the library indefinitely on Tuesday, the board also unanimously passed a policy allowing staff members to be paid, even if they were required to stay home.
Late fees accrued during the closure will be waived. Patrons are asked to keep checked-out materials until further notice, as the staff reviews guidelines on how to best sanitize returned items before reshelving. Returning items now would overwhelm the library staff, said Gray.
Kyle Turpin, the library’s marketing manager, encouraged patrons to check the library’s website and social media pages often for the latest updates, and to take advantage of the library’s vast array of digital resources at hcplibrary.org/online.
The Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library has closed to the public until April 11. The dropbox will be open and no fines will accrue during this time, the library said on its Facebook page. The library’s Wi-Fi will still be available in the parking lot for those who wish to use it from their vehicles.
More offices close
Greenfield’s city government is moving some of the operations of its Planning and Building Department online. On Monday, March 16, Mayor Chuck Fewell announced that he had asked the department to launch an online public portal to allow residents to submit permits and planning applications digitally. The launch had been planned for later this year. Residents can access the portal at citizenserv.com/greenfield.
Fewell reminded residents that utilizing online options for other city functions, like paying utility bills, can help minimize contact.
Public meetings at the Keith McClarnon Government Center will be limited in attendance to 10 members of the public. All public meetings will continue to be broadcast live on the city’s website, greenfieldin.org.
The Patricia Elmore Senior Center and the James Whitcomb Riley Home and Museum are closed. Greenfield Parks and Recreation activities and programs have been suspended.
The town of Fortville has closed its municipal building to the public until further notice. Utility customers are encouraged to pay their bills via the dropbox outside the municipal building’s front door, mail, phone or online.
Late penalties will be waived for March and April, and there will be no disconnections for nonpayment, the town said on its Facebook page.
McCordsville Town Hall is closed to the public. Those paying utility bills should use the dropbox in the front foyer. Town staff will still be answering phone calls and emails.
The town of Cumberland announced town hall is closed to the public during normal business hours, but will open for public meetings. Members of the public are asked to conduct business with town staff via telephone or email.
All buildings owned by the town of New Palestine are now closed to the public as well.
Jessica Karins, Kristy Deer, Mitchell Kirk and Shelley Swift of the Daily Reporter staff contributed to this story.
