Crane City Hall Closed To Public By Emergency Declaration
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March 27, 2020
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Note: Story updated since original posting.
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Crane city hall is closed to the public for the time being. Staff are still available to assist the public with their needs.
Isaac Estes-Jones
The Crane board of aldermen held an emergency meeting on Thursday, March 26, enacting an emergency powers ordinance. After the ordinance was approved, Mayor Collin Brannan issued an emergency order closing city hall to the public and cancelling the city clean up scheduled for later this month.
“The Board approved an ordinance following the President's, Governor’s, and County Commissioner’s lead, declaring a State of Emergency within the City of Crane. That ordinance also authorized the Mayor to take protective action for city facilities and staff, and granted authority to the Mayor to carry out emergency measures should those become necessary,” said Mayor Brannan.
On closing city hall to the public, Brannan said, “We will continue to staff the office - just closing the lobby.”
The order states, “The office will remain staffed and the drive-up window open during normal business hours. Customers needing to pay their utility bills may do so by calling Public Works (417-723-5990), by utilizing the drive up window, or by making payments on-line at www.Crane-MO.com.”
No specific changes to utility billing or shut offs have been announced. However, Brannan said, “We ask that our utility customers whose income or health has been directly affected, to contact the office for available payment options.”
Brannan worries that the coming month will bring further need for relief to those affected by business closures and loss of income. “We are looking into options to help those,” he said.
City sponsored events are also cancelled until further notice. Per the emergency order, “This cancellation includes the Spring Clean Up event and the Community Wide Garage Sale scheduled for April.”
The lobby of city hall is closed until further notice and the emergency ordinance will remain in effect for up to 60 days without further action by city officials. “We pray it won’t be that long,” said Brannan.
At this time, city trails and parks are not closed. “Our trails are open and being heavily used,” Brannan notes.
Impact on board meetings
At the time of this writing, how this closure will effect future meetings of the board of aldermen is unclear. “If we can find a way to do it virtually, we will probably do that,” said Brannan.
The next board meeting is scheduled for April 6.
The Crane city park is still open. According to Brannan, “We have been discussing closing the playground but it we have to, if will be with heavy heart. I really hate to close it and want to look for what we can do to protect our citizens short of closing it. We DO want to keep our trails and green area open but may have to impose strict limits on groups.”
The Crane board of aldermen held an emergency meeting on Thursday, March 26, enacting an emergency powers ordinance. After the ordinance was approved, Mayor Collin Brannan issued an emergency order closing city hall to the public and cancelling the city clean up scheduled for later this month.
“The Board approved an ordinance following the President's, Governor’s, and County Commissioner’s lead, declaring a State of Emergency within the City of Crane. That ordinance also authorized the Mayor to take protective action for city facilities and staff, and granted authority to the Mayor to carry out emergency measures should those become necessary,” said Mayor Brannan.
On closing city hall to the public, Brannan said, “We will continue to staff the office - just closing the lobby.”
The order states, “The office will remain staffed and the drive-up window open during normal business hours. Customers needing to pay their utility bills may do so by calling Public Works (417-723-5990), by utilizing the drive up window, or by making payments on-line at www.Crane-MO.com.”
No specific changes to utility billing or shut offs have been announced. However, Brannan said, “We ask that our utility customers whose income or health has been directly affected, to contact the office for available payment options.”
Brannan worries that the coming month will bring further need for relief to those affected by business closures and loss of income. “We are looking into options to help those,” he said.
City sponsored events are also cancelled until further notice. Per the emergency order, “This cancellation includes the Spring Clean Up event and the Community Wide Garage Sale scheduled for April.”
The lobby of city hall is closed until further notice and the emergency ordinance will remain in effect for up to 60 days without further action by city officials. “We pray it won’t be that long,” said Brannan.
At this time, city trails and parks are not closed. “Our trails are open and being heavily used,” Brannan notes.
Impact on board meetings
At the time of this writing, how this closure will effect future meetings of the board of aldermen is unclear. “If we can find a way to do it virtually, we will probably do that,” said Brannan.
The next board meeting is scheduled for April 6.
The Crane city park is still open. According to Brannan, “We have been discussing closing the playground but it we have to, if will be with heavy heart. I really hate to close it and want to look for what we can do to protect our citizens short of closing it. We DO want to keep our trails and green area open but may have to impose strict limits on groups.”