![]() |
Latest NewsCity COVID-19 Update Last Updated 4.30.20UpdateOn Thursday, April 16, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page extended the County’s Stay at Home Order indefinitely, with plans to revisit it in mid-May. That same day, Governor Parson extended the statewide Stay at Home Order through Sunday, May 3. Since the City of Ballwin is located within St. Louis County, this means that all Ballwin residents and businesses must adhere to the guidelines and instructions set forth by St. Louis County.
City of Ballwin OverviewWe assure you the City is committed to serving the community and will continue to provide basic and essential municipal services to all residents. We will continue to rely on instruction from St. Louis County and will take actions aimed at keeping our residents, business owners, community members, and City employees healthy and safe. Over the past month, we have implemented changes to our normal operations in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect our employees and the general public. The implemented changes to each department can be found below. Parks and RecreationThe Pointe at Ballwin CommonsOn March 16th, we made the difficult decision to close our community center, The Pointe at Ballwin Commons, in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This decision was not made lightly, but we felt it was the most responsible course of action to ensure the safety of our guests and staff. As of now, the facility will remain closed until the Stay at Home Order is lifted and it is safe to reopen. We have utilized this time to deep clean the facility and perform needed maintenance and repairs to the Indoor Pool. Pointe Members, we understand this closing may be an inconvenience to you and we want to make sure you still get your money’s worth. Therefore, we will be providing the following accommodations:
In the interim, some of our Fitness Instructors recorded 45-minute workout videos for you to follow along with at home! Our Home Sweat Home Fitness Class Series can be accessed on our website. ParksSt. Louis County’s Stay at Home Order allows individuals to “engage in outdoor walking, jogging, and exercise” and have deemed that a protected basic activity. Therefore, we have made the decision to keep our community parks open. Although St. Louis County has closed their parks, this does not affect the five parks located within our City limits which are operated and maintained by City staff.
That being said, we have implemented a number of changes to try to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at our parks. We have closed our playgrounds, restrooms, and water fountains. However, fishing in our ponds and using our trails and pathways are permitted. We have also kept our tennis courts, soccer fields, pickleball courts, basketball courts, and volleyball courts open. While we recognize going outside, getting fresh air, and staying active can have countless health benefits, we want to make sure you do so safely and responsibly. If you plan to visit one of our parks, we request you do the following:
Golf CourseSt. Louis County’s Stay at Home Order allows for individuals to continue playing golf. Since golf was deemed essential by St. Louis County, we have kept our course open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. However, we have made changes for the health and safety of employees and guests. Payment is with credit card only (the card numbers can be called into the Pro Shop and processed while maintaining social distance and without any physical contact). We have removed all carts, flags, rakes, ball washing stations, in an effort to eliminate high-touch surfaces. We have closed our interior facilities and putting green and have placed a Porta Potty outside. While we initially suspended food and beverage sales, we will now be offering certain prepackaged snacks and bottled beverages. Additionally, we have put social distancing signs out on our course and instructed our maintenance staff to gently remind people to adhere to these guidelines. North Pointe and Summer CampAt this time, no decisions have been made regarding the opening of our North Pointe Aquatic Center or the schedule for our summer camps. These will be taken into serious consideration. We hope to have specifics available in the near future and encourage you to keep checking the COVID-19 Information page on our website for updates. EventsUnfortunately, we have had to cancel many of our previously scheduled events, including our annual Ballwin Days Festival. We will resume regularly scheduled events once it is legal and safe to hold large gatherings. AdministrationOur Government Center closed to the public effective 5 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and will remain closed until it is safe to reopen. This includes our inspections and municipal court offices. We will keep the front vestibule open with information on how to drop off building plans and permits, as well as court payments. For questions, contact (636) 227-9000. Our Code Enforcement Division is continuing to conduct inspections virtually using their iPads. Public WorksOur Public Works crews are still handling work orders and moving forward with construction. However, we have limited the size of each crew, staggered crew shifts, and are temporarily using the Old Government Center as a secondary staging area for crews and vehicles. Our Public Works office is open by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, you will need to call them directly at (636) 227-9000 (option 2). Police DepartmentOur officers and dispatchers are still here for you! However, certain changes have been made in order to limit the spread of the virus. The department has temporarily suspended all fingerprinting services. The station lobby will remain open for a secure place to complete child custody exchanges and private transactions, but we would like to emphasize any citizen wishing to contact a police officer should call (636) 227-9636 before arriving in our lobby to see if we can help via telephone. Additionally, the old Board Room at the police station is being used to maintain social distancing for our officers at shift change. Other UpdatesBoard of AldermenThe next Board of Aldermen Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 27 and will be conducted via ZOOM. More information, including the ZOOM link, will be made available as we get closer to the meeting. Republic ServicesAt this time, Republic Services has committed to continuing all current contracted services, including trash, recycling, yard waste, and bulk pickup. There was a brief interruption in service from March 16 - March 29 as Republic Services dealt with COVID-19-related manpower issues, however normal service resumed effective Monday, March 30. Ballwin BusinessesMany of our Ballwin businesses are still open and they need your help now more than ever. We have created a list with information on our Ballwin restaurants' current service options (drive-thru, curbside, delivery, etc.). The health and well-being of our community is our primary focus. We truly apologize for any inconvenience the changes to our operations may have caused, but we sincerely appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this unprecedented situation. We are truly grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community. This situation is constantly evolving and all information above is subject to change. There are many ways to keep yourselves informed! We encourage you to check our website frequently, follow us on social media, sign up for our TextCaster alerts, and subscribe to our monthly email newsletters. We understand not everyone has access to the internet. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to call us with any questions! For information on the COVID-19 outbreak itself, including how to prevent yourself and what to do if you're symptomatic, please visit a reputable source such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services. We also encourage you to check St. Louis County’s website daily for new information. You can contact their COVID-19 Hotline (24/7) at (314) 615-2600. You can also sign up for their text alerts by texting STLOUISCOALERT to 67283.
|