Statement to Mills Community Regarding COVID-19
Town of Mills COVID-19 response
March 20, 2020
With the COVID-19 wreaking havoc in all our free, American lives, we want you to know we are working diligently to stay updated on all the real facts about the situation. The Town of Mills is participating in daily calls with the County Health Department to help ensure the safety and health of our community. We encourage you to stay informed on any one of the factual channels of communication such as the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html, the Wyoming Department of Health website, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html, or the World Health Organization website, https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.
We encourage your tranquility in this time of uncertainty as this is our opportunity to stand together as a nation to fight the invisible virus. If we are hoarding food, paper goods or other supplies, we are not fighting this together. President Trump has met with grocery store leaders who have stated there are plenty of supplies to accommodate our nation, without necessary hoarding. This could be looked at as an opportunity to try a new meal, new brand of food or new take-out restaurant all together. We encourage you to order meals at local restaurants for delivery or take-out. Please watch out for your neighbors, at a safe 6 foot distance, and share items you are able to share in this time of need.
We posted previously that Mountain View Baptist Church located at 4250 Poison Spider Road in Mills is a pick up meal location for students age 18 and under starting Friday, March 20. This will be available Mondays-Fridays, 11:30am – 1pm until further notice. They are also open for food distribution 12:30pm – 3:30pm on Wednesday’s, pending the Food Bank supply. Call 234-4381 to confirm Wednesday’s food availability.
With our health care professionals on the front line running out of space and supplies, Congress passed an $8.3 billion Health Appropriations Bill permitting the government to improve preparedness and response capability at the state and local level. While this might seem as though it does not affect Wyoming communities with our 19 confirmed cases as of March 20, this will indirectly affect us all as the virus needs to be mitigated as quickly as possible to prevent the spread.
Congress also passed and President Trump has signed H.R. 6201 Families First Coronavirus Response Act to provide emergency paid sick leave, family medical leave, tax credits for paid family and medical leave, and emergency unemployment stabilization. Please visit https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20200309/BILLS-116hr6201-SUS.pdf for the full text of the bill.
We are aware the layoffs have begun with many businesses being forced to shut the doors due to lack of patrons and massive efforts by our local, state and federal officials to keep us all safe and healthy. With that being said, Congress is working on a Phase 3 Economic Stimulus Bill to provide as much as $1 trillion in economic support to a variety of sectors and citizens.
The Town of Mills Council has approved a program to support our local businesses who have been affected by closures or layoffs voluntarily or involuntarily by forgiving their water bills for up to 2 months. Residents out of work are also eligible for this program by filing out an application. Please contact Town Hall at 234-6679 to apply for this program.
We, again, want you to know we are working with local health officials to keep you safe and healthy as a public entity. Please help each other, at a safe distance, in this critical time in our nation. We encourage your positive attitude and willingness to get through this difficult time together.
Seth Coleman
Mayor, Town of Mills
