I would like to provide an update related to the City of Le Sueur during this time of COVID-19 mitigation. As always, I can most easily be reached at jkruggel@cityoflesueur.com or by phone at 507-593-8312; now onto City business.
City Operations
The City of Le Sueur continues to operate though this period of time where social distancing is the norm and people are ordered to stay at home. The City of Le Sueur has essential services that must continue thought this period of time. Our staff has stepped up to balance the needs of our essential operations along with their changing needs at home. As the “stay at home” order goes into effect tonight, rest assured that the staff managing our essential services will be there. We also have contingency plans in place for these operations if we have employees who are unable to come to work. This type of local collaboration through mutual aid is something that show how strong of a community we have.
Local Emergency Declaration
The Le Sueur City Council declared a local emergency at the March 23rd City Council meeting. Declaring a local emergency opens up formal communication channels with the County and State emergency managers, and also allows staff to move quickly if situations arise that need to be addressed in a timely manner. Declaring a local emergency also allows the City to potentially access emergency support funds and supply chain if those become available. We are prepared as a City to maintain our services and assist the community.
City Contact Numbers
We want to make it as easy as possible to contact the City during this time of remote working. Below is a list of numbers to contact the City. We have also set up an email address for general information. That email is info@cityoflesueur.com.
Emergency – 911
Fire – 911
Le Sueur County Dispatch – 507-665-3313
General Information – 507-665-6401
Police (non-emergency) – 507-665-2041
Water/Wastewater – 507-665-9941
Electric – 507-665-3338
Public Works – 507-665-6401
Essential Businesses
I have received a number of questions about essential vs. non-essential businesses. Below is a link that describes areas that are determined to be “critical”. If you have questions, please direct them to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); their phone number is 651-259-7114. I imagine they are inundated with questions about Governor Walz’s “Stay at Home” order, so please be patient if you reach out. The City of Le Sueur is tasked with enforcing this order, but overall, if you don’t fall into a category on this list, please stay home.
https://mn.gov/deed/assets/naics-critical-list_tcm1045-424829.pdf
City Council Meetings
All City meetings are now being held using a remote meeting software solution. Moving forward we will be providing a link to these meetings and inviting the public to listen in on the meeting. These meetings will be recorded and posted to both Facebook Live and Livestream. We will also be offering “Public Comment” during the City Council meetings. We will post information about how to listen in on the meeting and also how to sign up for public comment. Our next City Council meeting is on April 13th.
Overall Thoughts
These are trying times that show a community’s true colors. I want to say how proud and inspired I am looking at the community’s desire to help each other out in this difficult time. Everybody has stepped up to help, and we truly have a community that cares for each other. Keep following the City website and social media pages for updates. I can be reached at 507-593-8312 or by email at jkruggel@cityoflesueur.com.