The City of Crawfordsville will reopen public buildings and resume in-person government meetings in mid-June, as the city gradually returns to business with the easing of Indiana’s stay-at-home order.
Mayor Todd Barton released a detailed timeline Wednesday for city services and facilities to resume regular operations. The schedule is based on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s five-phase plan for reopening the state and may change depending on local conditions, Barton said.
“It should be noted that upon opening, social distancing will be followed in all city facilities and in all public meetings,” Barton said in a press release announcing the timetable.
The process begins May 24 as park playgrounds and the Milligan Park Pool are scheduled to reopen to the public. At the pool, admission will be limited to maintain safe occupancy levels, Barton said. City-owned outdoor sports facilities are scheduled to resume games and practices June 15.
The Crawfordsville Community Center is set to reopen May 26, but group classes, practices and other activities will not resume until June 15. Activities for seniors are postponed indefinitely.
Crawfordsville Farmers’ Market plans to start the season June 6 at Pike Place. Large events, gatherings and concerts aren’t being scheduled there until after Independence Day.
City government will return to regular operations June 15. Public facilities including the City Building and utilities office will reopen, and public meetings can then resume in Fusion 54. The gatherings must observe social distancing and are subject to city approval.
The street and police department will also open their lobbies to the public June 15, but parking enforcement resumes Monday.
Crawfordsville fire stations will begin accepting visitors, but no group tours will be offered right away. The Crawfordsville Regional Airport terminal will also reopen.
Offices in the City Building remain accessible by phone or email and utility payments can be made using the drop box near the building’s main entrance.
Members of the city council, boards and commissions will start meeting in person in mid-June. The city council will not meet as scheduled this month and plans to reconvene June 15, one week later than normal. The council’s regular meeting scheduled resumes in July.
The Board of Public Works and Safety, which has been holding virtual meetings, will reconvene in-person on June 17.
The date and time of all virtual meetings will be posted on the city’s website with instructions for accessing the videoconference. Barton’s monthly community forums will resume in late July.
Some city services have already returned to business.
Garbage trucks hit the road this week and residents are required to use trash stickers. The Crawfordsville Yard Waste Site has resumed regular hours.
Crawfordsville Municipal Golf Course is open with social distancing restrictions in place.
There will still be fireworks on the nation’s birthday. The city’s Independence Day celebration will be held at dusk July 4.
Barton announced plans to reopen the city during Wednesday’s meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety.
The board approved a final $60,000 payment to Bowen Engineering for the wastewater project.
Members also approved mowing requests for an empty lot at 303 N. Oak St. owned by Samuel Dreyer and a property at 319 Louise Ave. owned by HSD.
Street commissioner Scott Hesler reported that the latest round of paving should wrap up this week. Work on the East Wabash Avenue resurfacing project is slated to begin sometime in June.
