(Seguin) — While there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the City of Seguin, city officials are instituting protocols within all city departments out of an abundance of caution, and to help ensure the health and safety of citizens.
The situation with Coronavirus is very fluid. Therefore, an informational page has been set up on the city’s website and is being updated as things change and new information becomes available.
The City of Seguin, in partnership with the Guadalupe County Office of Emergency Management, is communicating closely with the Texas Department of State Health Services Region 8, the Seguin and Guadalupe County medical community, and other partners on a daily basis to monitor and stay up-to-date on this evolving public health emergency.
The city is adhering to the CDC’s recommendation that for the next 8 weeks (through May 10) organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone gatherings or events that consist of 50 people or more. The city is also following the rules set forth in the Local Disaster declaration that was signed by Mayor Don Keil on Tuesday.
Departmental Changes
Several changes are being made to city facilities and services for the foreseeable future in order to promote the health and wellbeing of both citizens and staff, including the following:
CITY HALL City Hall is open. Where feasible, the public is encouraged to conduct business with city staff through phone calls and emails rather than in person.
CITY MEETINGS All meetings of City Boards and Commissions have been cancelled until further notice. City Council and Planning & Zoning will continue meeting as scheduled.
MUNICIPAL COURT All dockets, court trials, court appearances and jury duty have been cancelled through April at Seguin Municipal Court. Court dates will be re-scheduled for a later time.
PARKS & RECREATION
City Parks All parks and trails remain open to the public for the time being, however, all public restrooms in the parks are closed until further notice.
NOTE: In an effort to meet the CDC’s recommendation to cancel or postpone community gatherings of 50 or more people, ALL CITY PARKS WILL BE CLOSED Easter weekend (April 10, 11 & 12, 2020)
The splash pad at Park West is closed until further notice.
All pavilion and athletic facility rentals in city parks are suspended until further notice. Customers will receive full refunds for all facility bookings impacted by this public health emergency.
Sports Leagues Seguin Little League, Seguin Youth Soccer League, the All Youth Sports League and the Seguin Volleyball League are suspending all games until further notice.
Starcke Park Golf Course The golf course will remain open for the time being.
Seguin Events Complex All bookings at the Seguin Coliseum and the Fairgrounds facilities are suspended until further notice. Customers will receive full refunds for all facility bookings impacted by this public health emergency.
SEGUIN PUBLIC LIBRARY The Seguin Public Library is closed until further notice. Patrons are encouraged to utilize online resources and services during this time. The library’s many FREE digital services are available at library.seguintexas.gov, & include e-books and e-audiobooks, digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. These digital services are all free and only require a library card. Text 830-549-4698 for questions.
POLICE DEPARTMENT Seguin police officers are also taking proactive measures. Emergency/life threatening calls or “In Progress” calls for service to the Seguin Police Department will be handled in the same manner as always and will not change. Non-emergency/routine calls for service will be handled over the telephone, if at all possible. Officers responding to a residence will make every effort not to go inside unless it is absolutely necessary, and will be asking people to step outside when responding to calls for service. Officers will try to maintain a “social distance” of approximately 6 feet with persons they are interacting with. The presence of officers in the City will not change.
FIRE DEPARTMENT Effective immediately, the Seguin Fire Department and all stations are closed to the public. Station tours and public relations events are suspended until further notice. The Seguin Fire Department has implemented a process to screen patients when calls come into the 9-1-1 Center – which includes asking a series of questions prior to arriving on-scene, and wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment if necessary to protect both the patient and the emergency technician.
UTILITY BILLING In order to limit public contact and promote social distancing, the City is encouraging utility customers to pay their bills online using the City Hub customer portal, over the
phone, using the payment drop box located across the street from City Hall, by mail and via the drive-through window.
UTILITY OPERATIONS CENTER The City’s Utility Operations Center is closed to the public and to vendors. Please make contact via email and telephone.
With the information and impacts of Coronavirus being so fluid, it is important that residents seek information from reputable sources.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are the leading medical resources for information during this pandemic. During this uncertain time, it is important that you don’t panic or listen to rumors. Instead, citizens are encouraged to educate themselves about what this virus is and how they can best protect themselves and those around them.