The city of Arnold has made several changes to address health concerns related to the coronavirus known as COVID-19.
City officials announced today (March 16) that it will close the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road, beginning Wednesday (March 18). The rec center will remain closed until further notice.
We will continue to monitor the situation with the information released by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention),” Arnold Parks and Recreation supervisor Teresa Kohut said in a letter to rec center members and guests. “All classes currently in session will be fully refunded or credit applied.”
The Arnold Parks and Recreation Department announced March 13 that it had canceled the adult Easter Egg hunts scheduled for April 3 and April 4 at the outdoor pool at the rec center and a Nerf Wars event scheduled for Friday (March 20) at the rec center.
Today, the rec center announced that it is canceling the group and private swim lessons scheduled for Tuesday (March 17).
The Parks Department said on its Facebook page that refunds will be given to those who had reserved spots for those events.
City Administrator Bryan Richison said anyone who has paid to rent a room at the rec center during the time it is closed will receive a refund.
Kohut also said rec center staff will be available to answer questions by phone from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those seeking information may call 636-282-2380.
Arnold council OKs
‘virtual’ meetings
The Arnold City Council also has taken measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Council members held an emergency meeting March 12 before its already-scheduled work session and voted 6-0 to approve a resolution authorizing the city to hold telephonic or “virtual” meetings.
If a virtual meeting is needed, the city would set up a teleconference for the board or commission members to call, and they would hold the meeting by phone, Richison said.
He also said the number would be released to the public so residents could call and listen in.
Richison said he doubts the city would hold a public comment period for those meetings. However, he said the details are still being worked out to see if it is possible for residents to speak during a teleconference session.
“I’m 99 percent sure there will not be any public comment,” Richison said. “Where it gets tricky is for Planning Commission meetings. Some actions require public hearing. We are walking through how that would work or could it work. We don’t have it 100 percent figured out.
“I think we won’t have it all nailed down until we have to hold the first meeting.”
Richison said Arnold will hold virtual meetings only as a last resort.
“Our preference will be if we don’t have to have a meeting, we won’t have it,” Richison said. “Going forward, we will decide if a meeting needs to be held or not, and depending on the status of COVID-19, we will decide if it is safe to have a normal meeting. If it is not safe, we will have a virtual meeting.”
Richison said there are no planned meetings for the City Council or other commissions or boards for the rest of March.
However, a Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, and Arnold has a council meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 16.
“We believe we have to have that (Planning Commission) meeting for a minor record plat to split a piece of property into two lots,” Richison said. “How we approach that meeting, it will depend on how the commissioners feel about meeting in person. It will be up to them (to meet in person or hold a teleconference meeting).”
Planning Commission meetings are typically held at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd.
The day after the resolution allowing telephonic or virtual meetings, Arnold officials announced that the City Council meeting scheduled for March 19 was canceled. The City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at City Hall.
Richison said the city will not hold commission or board meetings for the foreseeable future. He said the committee studying options to build a convention center in Arnold and the school safety task force won’t meet for a while either.
Court, Police Department changes
The city also has announced it will not hold Municipal Court hearings for the remainder of March. Court is held at 7 p.m. on specific Mondays each month at 2101 Jeffco Blvd. Court was scheduled to be held Monday, March 23, but has been canceled.
Richison said the city has not decided if court will be held in April.
Also on March 13, Arnold Police Chief Bob Shockey said officers won’t enter homes or buildings where people have flu-like symptoms, unless it is a life-threatening situation. Otherwise, officers will wait outside for medical personnel to handle medical-related emergency calls.
Shockey also said the Arnold Jail has been shut down, except for holding prisoners who have committed felonies.
Ward 3 Councilman Mark Hood and Ward 4 Councilman Gary Plunk were absent from the March 12 meeting.