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City of Poteau Declares State of Emergency

PROCLAMATION DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19(Coronavirus) to be a global pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United State has declared an infectious disease national emergency declaration to combat COVID-19; and
 
WHEREAS, there have been 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the State of Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, health professionals and researchers have determined that COVID-19 is spread by human contact and interaction; and

WHEREAS, avoidance of human contact through methods such as social distancing is believed to stop the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the spread of COVID-19 is a disaster affecting life, health, and safety of Poteau residents and non-residents alike; and

WHEREAS, the state law permits the Mayor of the City of Poteau to proclaim that a state of emergency exists within any area of the City:

NOW, THEREFORE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE STATE LAW, I, SCOTTY WHITE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF POTEAU, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND DECLARE:

SECTION ONE:   A state of emergency exists within the corporate limits of the City of Poteau, Leflore County, Oklahoma.

SECTION TWO:   This proclamation shall become effective at 12:01 A.M. Wednesday, March 18, 2020.

SECTION THREE:   The following City of Poteau facilities shall be closed and all programming and/or events scheduled at said locations shall be postponed and/or canceled until the expiration of this emergency declaration:
City Hall
Patrick Lynch Public Library
Donald W. Reynolds Community Center
Poteau Area Recreational Complex
Melvin Taylor Nutrition Center 

The following City of Poteau facilities will remain open for individual access, however, all public and private gatherings, meetings and events at the following facilities are hereby postponed and/or canceled until the expiration of this emergency declaration:
Twyman Park
Bill J. Barber Park
Dunbar Park

SECTION FOUR:  Scheduled meetings to be held in City Hall are hereby postponed and/or canceled until the expiration of this emergency declaration.  All meetings of the Poteau City Council, Poteau Industrial Authority, and Poteau Public Works Authority are exempt from this cancellation requirement.  These meetings will remain open to the public but steps will be taken to ensure no close contact between attendees.  

SECTION FIVE:   All Poteau Municipal Court dockets are canceled.  All Court dates will be rescheduled. The Municipal Judge shall issue an order rescheduling cases and the Municipal Court Clerk shall issue written notifications of new court dates.

SECTION SIX:  All in-person gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes including, but not limited to community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades, concerts, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and similar activities are strongly discouraged until the expiration of this emergency declaration.

SECTION SEVEN:  Restaurants, bars, and other privately owned gathering places are highly encouraged to limit the number of patrons such that at least six (6) feet of space is available to each patron.  Such facilities are further encouraged to transition to “take-out” or “delivery” options.

SECTION EIGHT:   Local gyms and exercise facilities are encouraged to discontinue all group activities and to significantly increase and enhance facility cleaning regiments.

SECTION NINE:  This state of emergency shall continue until 12:01 A.M. April 5, 2020, or terminated earlier by further proclamation.

PROCLAIMED THIS 17th DAY OF March 2020.
 
Scotty White, Mayor
 
Tami Sprabery, City Clerk

APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY THIS 17TH DAY OF March 2020