Announcement from Gillett Interim Mayor, Josh McCarthy (Apr 1, 2020)
How is everyone doing amid this crisis? Knowing this is a new experience for all of us with people getting laid off and told to stay at home is not ideal, but we will make it thru this! Residents here and everywhere have been making adjustments to their current living situations limiting their movements. I believe that as a community we have been doing an excellent job of following the orders to try limit the spread of this nasty virus. Businesses are being hit hard along with the workers that work for them. Being ordered to shut down or having limited service options is a nightmare when these business owners’ livelihoods depend on it. It is hard enough to make it in our smaller community let alone this happening. Not only the owners but the workers themselves with lay offs and shortened hours. The Gillett School District has been doing an absolute tremendous job keeping in contact with students and parents. With homeschooling the only option teachers are prepping parents the best they can to keep our valued youth educated and learning. On Mondays and Fridays, they are handing out student lunches at the community center from 10am-12:30pm. Clubs and organized events are also being forced to re evaluate their plans moving forward. I do not want to deter any club or event but keep planning until the health officials figure how to keep this virus under control.
As far as the city stands City Hall has closed to the public March 16 with all meetings suspended until further notice. Water bill payments can be made online or the drop box. As of March 23, I have implemented our Covid-19 Emergency Plan for the employees. One clerk, one street department, and one utility (water department) worker allowed to work a day. The goal is to limit exposure between them just in case one of them gets infected we do not have to quarantine everyone. Our other full-time workers must stay home and stay healthy. The main purpose of this is to ensure that the city provides excellent services like water, sewer, streets cleared if a snowstorm, and any office operations that the clerks need to do. I do try to keep the council notified as much as possible on how operations are being handled. We will need to have unique meetings in the near future to continue moving forward with the city’s business. Until further notice the Library, campground, public restrooms, and playground equipment are closed. I do encourage walking and other family activities that do not keep yourselves cooped up in the house at safe distances from one another. The Police Department will still remain 24/7 coverage throughout the city and the Fire Department will still answer calls. At the moment despite circumstances city business has been running smoothly.
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The election as far it stands today is still on. I have many questions and concerns about why it cannot be postponed at least a month till this virus gets under control. From people coming into City Hall, poll workers, to the social distancing from each other. There is still limited time to get an absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov otherwise the election will be Tuesday April 7th. I will be voting in person and urge everyone to come out in amid the situation.
This is a difficult time for all of us not just one industry or group of people. All of us are affected by this! Please do what you can to help out whether it be stay at home or supporting our local businesses. We are not alone and we have each other. The thing about small communities we all look out for each other and no matter what we have each other’s back. As a proud Gillett resident, I feel more than comfortable that we will prevail because of the strong will and determination of everyone in this city!