Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 10

SWEET HOME, Ore. March 19, 2020, 11:25 p.m.— The Sweet Home City Council met tonight in a special session to consider a local state of emergency declaration and additional items related to the COVID-19 response in Sweet Home. During the session the Council declared a State of Emergency in the City of Sweet Home as granted under ORS Chapter 401 and the Emergency Operations Plan set forth in under ORS Chapter 401 and the Sweet Home Municipal Code Chapter 2.52. 

The Council adopted Sweet Home Pandemic Response Plan which is a four tiered procedure which supplements the current continuity plan. The Pandemic Response Plan was developed by the Emergency Management Coordinator, Tommy Mull. In the past week this plan has been provided to four other cities to assist in their COVID-19 Response.  

The Council also approved the City of Sweet Home Emergency Relief for City Utility Accounts and other City Fees temporary policy. This allows local businesses who have had to shut-down due to the coronavirus to shut off that business’s city utility account in order to prevent the accrual of additional charges during closure. The normally required shut off & reconnect fees will be paid out of City economic development funds. The City will waive each of these fees only once during the current emergency for the requesting business. The City of Sweet Home will also, upon request of a residential account holder, negotiate payment plans; payment deferrals; waiver of late, shut off, and/or turn on fees; or other payment relief methods. Any special arrangements may only be made upon direct negotiation between the City and the Account Holder. The City encourages all account holders who need such arrangements to contact the City as soon as possible at (541) 367-5128. The City of Sweet Home, for the duration of the current emergency, will not shut off services for any utility account for non-payment. The City Manager is also empowered to waive any other City fees during the current emergency in order to provide financial relief to City businesses and residents. 

The City of Sweet Home will continue to provide city services at the following levels: 

City Hall: CLOSED to the public​.​ We will conduct normal business via telephone (541) 367-5128 or electronic means.
City Parks: OPEN normal hours. 
Library: CLOSED until further notice. Library patrons can access books online through Library2Go. All due dates have been extended. Dates for items on hold have also be extended. 
Municipal Courts: CLOSED to the public. We will conduct normal business via telephone (541) 367-4660 or electronic means.  Proceedings are postponed until May 13, 2020 and after.  Letters are being mailed with new court dates.  
Police: OPEN normal business hours.​ We have suspended public fingerprinting and request people to limit their visit to the lobby to emergency situations. 
Public Works: ​Fully operational. CLOSED to the public​. Not accepting deliveries.

Below is the latest information we have from our local partners.  Their status may change, please click the link to get the most up to date information. 

  1. Sweet Home Senior Center: Closed until further notice. All Senior activities postponed until further notice. Wednesday lunch meal is still being prepared and served take out only (at the regular lunch price.)  This will be the procedure until restaurants open again in Oregon.
  2. Sweet Home Emergency Ministries (SHEM) Food Bank: Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
  3. Linn County Public Health COVID-19 Call Center: (541) 967-3888 open from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. seven days a week.
  4. Meals on Wheels: Preparing and delivering meals on Monday, Tuesday & Friday of each week.  No sit down lunch served in dining area.  All meals take-out.
  5. Sweet Home School District: Schools will be closed March 16th- April 28th. They have provided COVID-19 Resources for Families and Online Learning Resources to assist families. 
  6. Sweet Home Boys & Girls Club: Closed until April 28th. They will be serving to-go lunches between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm Monday-Friday.  The to-go lunches can be picked up outside the building.  Children must be present to collect the to-go lunch.
  7. Sweet Home Sanitation:  Collection trucks are running on schedule. As a reminder if you have additional garbage that does not fit in your can, please place it in a closed bag next to the container for pickup. The Transfer Station is open normal hours. Customers are asked to remain in their vehicles. Only 2 vehicles will be allowed in the yard at a time. The office is closed to the public. They are available by phone 541-367-2535 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Payment box is located near front door. 
  8. Sweet Home Community Pool: Closed until further notice.
  9. Linn Shuttle: All 10 regular routes running.  Start time of 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with 6 routes on Saturday. We will continue with this approach to maximize the “Social Distance” availability to our riders.
  10. Sweet Home Shopper:  Regular service from 6:00 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday service from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. will continue.
  11. Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus:  Regular service from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday will continue.

We do not anticipate making another update until Friday, March 20th, barring any major changes.  If we learn of any important local information, we will update as needed.

PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASES

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 1 - 03/04/20
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 2 - 03/12/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 3 - 03/12/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 4 - 03/13/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 5 - 03/13/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 6 - 03/14/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 7 - 03/16/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 8 - 03/17/2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - 9 - 03/18/2020

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