By L. Parsons The Winslow City Council hosted a telephonic meeting last week that included a report by Little Colorado Medical Center COVID-19 Incident Commander Christy Ross. “We are lucky enough to not be hit as hard as places like New York City and the pandemic has not overwhelmed our health care system in the State of Arizona, although our area is hard hit.” She explained that the rate of COVID-19 contraction is figured in cases per 100,000 people. “When we talk about cases per 100,000, we do have quite a few. Especially based off of numbers on the Navajo Nation. The Nation has been hit very hard. Now Whiteriver, which is also in our county, is becoming a hot spot.” Ross continued, “We are seeing in Navajo County that those numbers are coming down and stabilizing. There seems to be more testing and more positive cases although they are not as severe as what we were seeing.” She mentioned the capacity of health care facilities throughout the state saying, “If you look at the numbers for ICU (intensive care unit) bed use, we are at 75 percent full and 60 percent full-on regular beds statewide. Most of our patients go to Flagstaff for intensive care beds and they have some open now, which they did not a few days ago. Another positive is that the number of patients on ventilators at Flagstaff Medical Center is dropping.” Testing continues at Winslow’s health care centers, both LCMC and the Winslow Indian Health Care Center. Ross said, “We have respiratory clinics and curbside labs at both facilities. We are also participating in a University of Arizona study, where first responders and health care workers can be tested to see if they have had the disease in the past.” Another symptom of this unprecedented situation Ross said, is the emotional health of residents. “We are calling all who have tested positive daily to check on them. We are starting to see some despair in the community. Mental health resources for those experiencing anxiety are available on our social media pages but we ask that you check in on your friends and family as well.” As stay-at-home orders and other restrictions are being loosened Ross said, “We are starting to have conversations about scheduling some elective surgeries, that we were not doing before. We are also starting to schedule some well-child checkups. Both of those things will be conducted with a separate entrance in to the facility and with screening before entry. We are not sure exactly when that will happen but we are looking at the next month or so. “I know we have all have had losses as we have lost eight people here in the City of Winslow. Our thoughts and prayers are with those that are experiencing that loss. Please also remember that 25 percent of those that are exposed to COVID-19 don’t have symptoms or have only mild symptoms. If you have co-morbidities or health issues, or are over 65, you need to be extra vigilant, but everyone should be wearing masks in public.” Mayor Tom McCauley added, “In a small town, we know all eight people who have passed due to this COVID. We know and support and love each other in this community, so I would like the friends and family of those that have passed to know that city hall and the entire community mourns with you.” He continued with his thoughts on the reopening of Arizona’s economy. “If the governor issues a reopen date, that does not mean that everyone needs to go out and participate, we are still going to need to do our social distancing. Still going to need to wear masks, disinfect and wash our hands. If you’re not comfortable going out, you don’t have to, you can stay home. There is no one that is going to make you go out. If your employer calls you back to work, you need to discuss that with your employer. You don’t have to participate, that will be your own personal choice.” On Wednesday, April 29, Governor Doug Ducey extended his executive order keeping non-essential businesses closed until May 15. Also on the council agenda was a discussion regarding direction to be taken for further COVID-19 mitigation as the state begins to enter Phase I of reopening. McCauley said, “We are working with our public health officials and that is who we look to for guidance. Those include officials from the Arizona and county health departments as well as local health care providers at LCMC and WIHCC.” Councilmember Rickey Jackson added, “I appreciate that we are getting out ahead of this and have our police officers out there enforcing state laws and we have received many emails from people with concerns about us abiding by those laws. I do think we need to get out ahead and work with our city attorney and be proactive about whatever the next proclamation or orders are. Our practices should be set by listening to our local health officials who are telling us to practice social distancing and wearing our masks. We should listen to health professionals and science rather than politicians.” Councilmember Robin Boyd added, “I have to agree with Rickey. Although, at the same time, we have a mindset that has kind of changed. We have learned some lessons with our essential businesses and I don’t see where we will have a problem with the non-essentials doing the same thing with the social distancing. I look forward to getting those businesses open as soon as possible. I know it’s a fine line and there will be a time that we need to open up the economy.” Councilwoman Samantha Crisp asked, “At what point in the reopening phases will our city emergency declaration expire?” City Attorney Trish Struhan replied. “We have our own local emergency in Winslow and it will remain in effect as long as it is on file with the city clerk. Which means, it will remain until the city takes action to remove or appeal it. Truthfully, there would not be a lot of value in removing that emergency proclamation because keeping it in place opens funding opportunities for grants pertaining to personal protective equipment and law enforcement among other things. We want to remain eligible for those grants, that often require an emergency declaration.” McCauley concluded, “I think the best direction we can give our city manager is to continue to educate our employers, businesses and citizens to make sure they are social distancing and sanitizing.” The council also received a report on the city’s annual singular audit report from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. Ben Hur, a partner with the firm, Fester and Chapman, presented findings to the council. “In our opinion, the financial statements referred to present fairly in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities, business-type activities and each major fund of the City of Winslow as of June 30, and the respective changes in financial position and cash flows thereof for the year,” he reported. The entire report is available on the city’s website at www.winslowaz.gov. In other business, the council: * Entered an executive session in which the succession of Winslow Police Chief Dan Brown was discussed. * Approved the annual Little League agreement, allowing the league to use city fields for the 2020 season. It is not yet known whether the season will take place, and a budget will be provided to the council if needed. * Approved the annual agreement between the Umpires Association for the 2020 Little League season. The city provides no more than $4,999 each year toward umpire pay. * Approved a resolution designating Winslow City Manager John Barkley as the applicant agent and authorized representative for the city to apply for financial assistance under the Disaster Relive Act or Hazard Mitigation grants. Kelleen Haney is named as an alternate point of contact. The next meeting of the Winslow City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, with the location is to be determined.
