Wichita County under shelter-inplace orders

Following Iowa Park Mayor Ray Schultz’s Disaster Declaration last week, Sunday evening Wichita County Judge Woody Gossum issued a Wichita County Disaster Declaration.

The order places the county and all the incorporated cities inside the county, except Wichita Falls, under a shelter in place order. Wichita Falls Mayor and City Council issued an shelter in place last week.

The order took effect Monday at midnight.

Iowa Park Mayor Ray Schultz had signed an Emergency Disaster Declaration on March 20, that stopped short of shelter in place. The council ratified it March 23. As the number of positive cases in the county climbed, Schultz had requested city attorneys to draw up an Emergency Disaster Declaration for the city, but scrapped it after he learned Wichita County was going forward with a county wide declaration.

“Self-governance is a package that includes the good times as well the most -challenging times like we may be in now. Iowa Park is blessed to have a Mayor who is willing to wear the hat of Emergency Management Director and carry the weight of the world on his own shoulders. He is supported by a City Council and staff who respect his leadership and authority as much they appreciate his years of community service,” City Manager Jerry Flemming said, “Mayor Schultz directed staff to prepare sample emergency orders before any other city, any county-wide or state-wide orders were issued.

In all scenarios, people would temporarily give up large portions of their liberties and their livelihoods for the sake of community health. And the possibility remains that this temporary period may outlast the local economy. Nevertheless, the State and County orders are an effective attempt to minimize all direct social contact, the only strategy to defeat this enemy.”

Monday evening there were 30 positive cases of COVID-19 and by Tuesday evening there were 38 confirmed cases in Wichita County. There has been 818 people tested. Of those 437 were negative. Six are hospitalized, two are in ICU and one of the patients is on a ventilator.

Gossum said to get a handle on COVID-19, people must stay home unless they are essential personnel. What the Order Means and How it effects Iowa Park

The order’s main purpose is to get people to stay at home and if they must leave their residence for an essential purpose to practice social distancing.

As a result several “non-essential” businesses in Iowa Park as well as other Wichita County businesses have had to close. Businesses that are open must enforce social distancing in their businesses and others must modify operations.

Although many Iowa Park businesses had already started enforcing social distancing after Texas Governor Greg Abbott enacted a

Emergency Disaster Order earlier this month.

Stores that provide essentials for day to day living such as stores that sell groceries must work to keep their customers at least fix feet apart. Most have placed tape on the floors near the registers.

“People must understand when they go to the store one person in the family should go. Don’t take the whole family. Picking up essential goods for your residence is not and should not be a family outing,” said Gossum.

He also discourages family gatherings. “The order is for people who all reside together to shelter in place, not gather the whole family together for family socials,” he said. “This is for their safety.”

The county order does give each city authorization to request an amendment for their community. However, Judge Gossum will give their request temporary approval then he and the County Commissioners will review the requests during their next Monday meeting.

Beauty and Barber shops were ordered to close because social distancing isn’t possible when hair is being cut, styled, washed, etc.

In addition, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order closing all beauty shops, and barber shops. An earlier state had closed all massage businesses.

Flower shops are also closed, because they are not deemed essential.

Restaurants need to stay open to provide essentials to residents, and especially those along highways where truck drivers can stop and get food, fuel, and other essentials. Most factories, if not all, in Wichita County are also considered essential businesses.

United States Postal Service, Fedex, UPS, and all also considered essential.

Many businesses have given their employees “travel letters.”

“There is no such thing as having to have a travel letter,” said Gossum. “Law enforcement is not going to go out and stop people just because they are driving down the roadway. But, they will stop you for a traffic violation and ask you at that time what your essential business is. ”

Iowa Park Police Chief Steve Davis, said Iowa Park officers will be watching for crowds, visiting busy businesses, and making sure social distancing is being practiced as well as limiting the number of people together to no more than 10.

“We will be making sure people are obeying the order. When the rules are being violated chances are more will be put into place for the safety of everyone,” said Davis. “They are put into place to protect all of us. It can be a matter of life and death for some. We are here to protect and serve our residents and community.

Most businesses in Iowa Park except stores that sell groceries, fuel and hardware are keeping the doors locked to walk-in traffic.

City hall has had the lobby doors locked for approximately two weeks. However, the drive through is open.

The library is also locked to patrons, but they can still check-out books. See the library news to learn more about checking out library materials.

Flemming said, “Under the Mayor’s direction, city staff have attempted to provide essential public services while providing for the health and safety of city employees and citizens, Mayor Schultz encouraged all area leaders to disseminate positive and accurate information to counter the plethora of misleading information readily available to sheltering citizens. Staff will continue to plan, serve and enforce public policy throughout this extended incident. The next few weeks may be painful in many ways for Iowa Park which appears to be a hotspot for this pandemic in Wichita County. If we fight together now, we will rebuild together when it subsides.” Gossum and the county commissioners are monitoring the cases as well as the compliance of people and will revisit the county wide order as needed. Additional restrictions could be put into place if the numbers continue to climb and people continue to ignore the need to social distance and stay at home unless it is essential for them to get out.

To read the complete Declaration of Disaster in Wichita County go to withitacountytx.com.