PRESS RELEASE: City of Harrisonville takes additional steps to prevent spread of COVID-19 Harrisonville, MO – March 17, 2020 – In response to COVID-19 concerns, the City of Harrisonville is taking additional steps to ensure the health of our community and the continuity of City services. As of March 17, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Harrisonville. But, one case has been reported in Cass County.
Following guidance from the Cass County Health Department, who has recommended limiting public gatherings to no more than 10 persons, the City of Harrisonville will close all facilities indefinitely. The City is further encouraging residents to refrain from public gatherings, regardless of the number in attendance. During this time the City encourages residents and customers to take advantage of online City services including payment of City utility bills and court fines. Checks or money orders can be mailed or left in the drop box located on the front of City Hall, located at 300 E Pearl Street. Credit or debit cards can be used to make payments online by selecting the online payment option or by phone by calling 1-833-227-1750.
Residents may also set up Autopay, which will schedule a payment to draft directly from a checking account on the 15th of each month, without any additional fees. To encourage customers to maintain the Center for Disease Control’s social distancing recommendations, the City has (temporarily) removed the $4 credit card convenience charge for those customers paying online or by phone. During this time, the City encourages the use of resources available on the City’s website. Online services include certain permits, business license applications, payment of utility bills and court fines.
Those with utility billing questions are asked to call (816) 380-8900. On March 16, Judge William Collins issued an administrative order canceling all municipal court dockets in the 17th Circuit from March 17, until April 3. Staff will be reassigning each case to a future docket and will be working to notify attorneys and defendants, by mail summons, of their new court dates. Staff hope to have all information input into the online system by Thursday. Defendants who have a Stay of Execution on payment of their fines will still need to make a minimum payment of $100 by April 1. Defendants who are unable to make the minimum payment must call the court (816) 380-8903. A letter will also be mailed to these defendants.
During this time, payments can be made online, over the phone by calling 1-877-222-0377, mailed in or put in the Utilities Drop-Box at City Hall, located on the outside wall at 300 E Pearl Street, (Please clearly mark the envelope “For Court”). Those with Municipal Court questions are asked to call (816) 380-8903. This is a very fluid situation and the City will continue to evaluate all services and policies. Due to social distancing recommendations from public health experts surrounding COVID-19, the City is taking additional steps to prevent the potential spread of the virus. Parks and Recreation has postponed all recreational programming, activities, leagues, events, childcare and rentals, including all adult and youth activities, fitness classes and paid programming. The Harrisonville Community Center will be closed effective March 18 through March 29. Shelter rentals have also been canceled.
Parks and Recreation will work with the Youth Sports Associations as they determine their course of action for spring programs. As part of these closures, the Cass County Council on Aging, following a recommendation from the MidAmerica Regional Council, announced Friday that they will be closing the Senior Center at Harrisonville Community Center, starting Monday, March 16, for the remainder of the month of March (March 31). Officials say the Meals on Wheels program will continue. The South Metro Youth Sports League, which includes Harrisonville, Peculiar, Pleasant Hill, Raymore and Belton, has decided to delay the start of spring youth sports until April 13. On March 27, this decision will be reassessed to determine if leagues are safe to resume. Scheduled City Board and Commission meetings, without necessary action items, will be canceled or postponed during this time. For information about which meetings have been canceled or postponed, please visit the calendar on the City website.
The Harrisonville Police Department lobby entrance, located at 205 N Lexington Street, will remain open for the time being. If a change is made in that regard, the public will be notified. The City asks members of our community to be diligent in the cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas and to take measures to facilitate proper social distancing (give six feet). Residents should stay informed and ensure they are receiving information from reliable sources. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Cass County Health Department offer up-to-date information on their websites and social media.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has activated a 24/7 phone hotline for the public or providers to receive information or guidance related to COVID-19. The hotline is reached at 877-435-8411. A COVID-19 information page is available at www.harrisonville.com with prevention tips, CDC videos and links to information sources. Please continue to monitor the City website, social media pages and community engagement tools, such as Nixle, for updates on the situation, as it pertains to City facilities.
