Sneak Peek

Municipal operations continue in face of pandemic

The COVID-19 virus may have canceled the April meeting of the Plattsburg City Council, but the operations of the city are still ongoing.

Currently, the doors to walk-in customers at Plattsburg City Hall remain closed, but it has not stopped the daily duties or calls for service for the employees.

“I am still coming in every day,” said Plattsburg City Administrator Greg Harris, “and all employees are still full-time and receiving full compensation.”

Harris said all public works functions are still operating, but in a different way. Some changes to employee schedules allow them not to report to the maintenance shop. Instead, specific duties are assigned to them in addition to answering any emergency calls. The staff at city hall are on a daily rotation with the ability to work remotely from home. The police department’s duties are the same as before the virus, with all shifts being covered. 

Of particular note was the implementation of a new notification system for the citizens of Plattsburg. The new system is called Nixle and it allows text messages to be sent to registered subscribers. Registration can be completed by texting 64477 to 888777 from a mobile phone. For those who don’t have a phone, they can go to nixle.com and create a user profile. So far, the system has 500 subscribers.

The water system upgrade process continues with the most recent hurdle being a request from the Otoe-Missouria tribe for a cultural survey as required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The survey was completed with no effect on any archaeological sites. In addition, Harris said he has completed the necessary due diligence questionnaire. Next up will be the user rate methodology to determine rates for operation and payment of debt service on bonds.

​On miscellaneous items:  Annual management plan for Perkins Park to the Corps of Engineers has been submitted; the bi-annual financial report for streets and bridges submitted to the Mo. Department of Transportation; The permit for Nick’s Health Care to hook in to the city’s sewer from the Department of Natural Resources was received, and system is ready for operation.