SPEARFISH, SD – As active COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in the area, the City of Spearfish is returning to a remote format for all public meetings through at least Dec. 31, 2020. This includes regular City Council meetings, Public Works and Legal, Finance, and Public Safety, and Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Advisory committee meetings, and Planning commission meetings.
Information for participating in the remote meetings, via the online platform Zoom or telephonically, will be available on meeting agendas, which are posted prior to the meetings on the City website, cityofspearfish.com. People wishing to provide any comments for public hearings, etc., are encouraged to do so in writing, via email, prior to the meeting, and may also do so during the remote meetings.
“Community spread has been and continues to occur, which means the virus is moving from person to person in our communities,” Spearfish Mayor Dana Boke said. “We knew this was coming, and we must all do our part to slow the spread. Please take all of the recommendations very seriously and put them into action.”
The City continues to participate in briefings with national, regional, state, and local partners, including Monument Health, the Spearfish School District, and Black Hills State University, and is following the recommended guidelines from the State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Recommended CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines include:
- Practice social distancing, keeping at least 6 feet away from others, and when that is not possible, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
- Avoid groups of 10 or more people when social distancing is not possible.
Citizens are encouraged to pay their utility bills online or by utilizing the Utility Payment Dropbox outside of City Hall and utilize online and telephone services to conduct any other business they would normally conduct by entering City facilities. Contacts for the various City departments are available on the City’s website, cityofspearfish.com, by clicking on the appropriate department under the “Departments” header at the top of the homepage, or under the “I want to…” tab, under “Contact.” If someone must enter a City facility, they are encouraged to wear a mask.
“Help us stop the spread,” Thomas Worsley, president of Spearfish Hospital and Hills Market at Monument Health, said. “We are currently seeing extremely busy hospitals and clinics across our region. Our healthcare professionals are working hard to be there and take care of our community and will do everything we can to fulfill that mission. You can help us by masking up when appropriate and following those guidelines that have shown to be effective in limiting the virus’ spread.”
