» Painesville suspends utility shutoffs,

The city of Painesville has decided to temporarily suspend all utilities disconnection shutoffs during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Due to the closures of many businesses schools and activities, the utilities office will temporarily stop disconnection of residential services for nonpayment in the month of March,” a statement from the city read.

The city added that it will re-evaluate where it stands at the end of the month. In the meantime, officials advise residents to continue paying their bills, if possible, via online or by dropping off payments in the dropbox located in the City Hall parking lot, 7 Richmond Street.

The city has also created an emergency response team tasked to handle any COVID-19 related incidents as they arise. A statement from the city read in part, “There is also an internal crisis team doing daily (sometimes hourly) updates between city staff and residents to ensure safety. This team includes the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Police Chief and staff, Fire Chief and staff, Communication Coordinator and Human Resources.”

“The team is tasked with the safety of two audiences: the general public and city employees,” Communications Director Kathleen Sullivan explained. “When it comes to the public side, we follow all recommendations from the Lake County General Health District.

“If there were a case in Painesville or an outbreak, the LCGHD would be the ones handling the situation along with county and state officials with our involvement.”

Sullivan went on to state the city’s role right now is more of the ripple effect.

“It’s about protecting our first responders who would be exposed to the virus and making sure they follow proper protocol,” she said. “It’s about continuing to educate the public about healthy habits to avoid illness and to discourage large gatherings. It’s about closely monitoring not only local news but state and national news to make sure we are following all advised guidelines.

“Our biggest job is making sure the city is running no matter what comes our way,” she added. “People need electricity, water, sewer, police, fire - regardless of if there is a virus or not. So we have plans in place to make sure there is always someone running these operations in a ‘worse case’ situation. Back-up-people to our back-up-people, if you will.

“In terms of our internal response we are evaluating on a daily basis if we might need to call off non-essential personnel,” she continued. “Basically our non-essential personnel would be on call during normal working hours in case we need them, but would stay home to avoid the spread of illness.

“The Emergency Response Team is the one who is determining when or if this essential vs nonessential personnel decision will happen. All our facilities are in deep clean mode, so there has been some procedural changes, especially in police and fire, to match the evolving needs of the virus spread.”

Painesville has also cancelled a series of events. These cancellations include the child-geared Learn to Cook! event, the March Madness Skills Zone basketball challenge, as well as all senior line dancing held at the Morse Avenue Community Center.

This is in addition to larger city institutions like Lake Erie College and Morley Library which closed for the foreseeable future as the nation braces for COVID-19.

Additionally, City Council has cancelled its most recent meeting, originally scheduled for March 16.

These cancellations and closures mirror decisions made by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine which saw restaurants and bars across Ohio shutdown all in an attempt to get ahead of potential infections and to lower that curve to a level manageable for hospitals and emergency services.

Painesville City Schools have shut down like others throughout the state but the district’s mobile food service program will continue to provide pre-bagged breakfasts and lunches for any child under the age of 18 beginning March 23. This service will run weekdays throughout the extended closures.

The mobile food service schedule is as follows throughout the week:

• Heritage Middle School, 11:00 to 11:15 a.m.

• Chestnut Elementary (back lot), 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.

• Maple Elementary, noon to 12:15 p.m.

• State Street Park, 12:30 to 12:45 p.m.

• Elm Street Elementary (back lot), 1 to 1:15 p.m.

• Harvey High School, 1:30 to 1:45 p.m.

The Painesville Salvation Army, 69 Pearl St., will also be providing hot meals for all ages as long as the schools remain closed. Its lunch hour will run from noon until 1 p.m.