Changes made after COVID outbreak

2 city departments closed to public

Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer announced Sept. 1 that an outbreak of positive coronavirus tests at City Hall prompted officials to make changes at the building, 5511 Liberty Ave.

“To preserve service to our residents, I have decided to have the utilities clerk and building department clerks work remotely beginning Sept. 1,” Forthofer wrote in a letter to city employees that he forwarded to The Morning Journal. “Those departments will be closed to the public until further notice.

“We are down to one healthy clerk in each of the utilities and building departments. They will work from home with IT support.”

Building inspectors will do their work and building permits may be found online at Citizen Portal.

Utilities bills can be paid online Online Bill Pay — City Of Vermilion. Inperson payments may be placed in the secure box at the door on Liberty Avenue, he said.

This system worked well during the last shut down, the mayor said.

Other city departments will continue to operate as usual for now. Wellness testing will continue.

“I encourage unvaccinated city employee to get vaccinated,” Forthofer said in his letter. “Yes, I know you can still test positive when vaccinated.

“But after all the hours of meetings with doctors, health commissioners and epidemiologists that I have been subjected to recently, it is clear that vaccinated people who contract COVID suffer far less and recover more quickly than unvaccinated people.

“Vaccination is a favor to your family, your fellow workers and yourself. Please consider it.”