While there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus in Washington County, Bailey and City department directors have been working for the past month to identify potential areas of concern should the virus become widespread in the community as well as ways to help reduce spread of the disease.“When it became obvious this virus could potentially become a threat in the U.S., we began looking at our current practices and how they might need to be altered in the event of widespread illness, both in our citizen population and our employees,” Bailey said. Amounts due will not be forgiven.• City-owned pools will not be opened while these measures are in effect.• The Bartlesville Public Library and History Museum will be closed to the public.• All city board and committee meetings are hereby canceled except for City Council and Authority meetings. That’s what Bartlesville does. Meeting rooms may still be used by City staff when necessary.• All in-person gatherings for social, spiritual, and recreational purposes, including, but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities are strongly discouraged while these measures are in effect.• Local gyms and exercise facilities are encouraged to discontinue all group activities and to significantly increase and enhance facility sanitation regiments.Regarding city employee protocol, the resolution also included the following measures:• Where practical, to close portions of public facilities to the public and encourage the use of email, telephone, and other remote methods of conducting business with the city.• To modify work schedules and conditions as necessary to ensure business continuity and employee safety.• To invoke special protocols to limit the risk of exposure for city employees.• To establish procedures for certain employees to telecommute where practical• Establish mandatory disinfection protocols for all city facilities.Bartlesville resident Chad Ellis, who addressed the council about the virus previously, said the resolution needs to be more aggressive as far as social distancing.“If we take prudent measures, we can flatten the curve,” Ellis said.City Manager Mike Bailey, who helped draft the resolution, said the measure will be reviewed at every meeting until the crisis passes.Copeland said, “We will continue to talk several times a day to stay on top of this.”Councilman Paul Stuart said although the virus has not been widely spread in Oklahoma as yet, the effects of the virus could be devastating due to the number of people with comprised immune systems. The resolution defines city employee protocol, limits gatherings, discontinues city meetings and re-establishes utility Online access to the Oklahoma City Municipal Code is provided through MuniCode.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code. Please email the City Clerk if you have difficulty accessing the Oklahoma City Municipal Code. The measures will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, and will be reviewed and, if warranted, amended or renewed by the council during its regularly scheduled meeting on the first Monday of every month.“We have been careful to ensure that our approach is measured and appropriate in this situation,” Bailey said. The 2018 Bartlesville crime rate rose by 19% compared to 2017. Anyone who suspects they may have Covid-19 should contact their primary care provider or hospital by phone prior to seeking treatment. Authorities are encouraged to only meet when absolutely necessary.• The use of city-owned meeting rooms for public gatherings of any size is hereby prohibited.