Conversation with the Terre Haute Mayor Part 2

Click play to watch

Moderator asks: we received a large amount of questions about finances, including the city's financial status.

[take fs] obviously finances around the world is an issue what is the latest with the city's financial status and moving forward?

Mayor says: response (include information about ambulance service and all the grants that are being the grants service and all ambulance about information (include response mayor says: forward?

Moving status and financial the city's the latest with issue what is the latest with the city's financial status and moving forward?

Mayor says: response (include information about ambulance service and all the grants that are being pursued) [notes:keep up live bug] moderator asks: moderator asks: [take fs] what kind of strain has covid-19 put on public safety like the fire department and police department?

What changes do you see these departments having to consider moving forward and what impact will that have on the city financially?

Mayor says: [notes:keep up live bug] moderator asks: [take fs] what is [take fs] asks: moderator live bug] [notes:keep up mayor says: financially?

On the city will that have what impact forward and what impact will that have on the city financially?

Mayor says: [notes:keep up live bug] moderator asks: [take fs] what is happening with property taxes?

When are these due and how will delays in payment impact the city's finances?

Mayor says: [take fs] the indiana department of local government finance (dlgf) issued an executive order on march 20, 2020, which provides an automatic payment extension without penalty for spring 2020 real and personal property tax payment installments that are normally due on or before may 11, 2020.

The extension is for 60 days to july 10, 2020.

Excluded from the extension are payments made by escrow accounts or mortgage companies.

Due to covid-19 we ask taxpayers to pay by the following options while the annex is closed to the public and is following the stay-at-home order.

1.

Mail: vigo county treasurer, po box 1466 indianapolis, in 46206-1466, or directly to our office at 191 oak st, terre haute, in 47807 2.

Drop box: a drop box is available 24/7 located at the north entrance of the annex building.

3.

Banks: branches of fifth third, first farmers bank & trust, first financial, old national, regions, riddell and terre haute savings bank located in vigo county will be accepting payments prior to the due date.

The tax bill coupon must accompany your payment.

4.

Online: pay online at vigocounty.in.gov and click on bill pay.

You may pay by credit or debit card which will incur a processing fee of 2.35% of your total bil l or by e-check with a processing fee of $1.50.

When paying by e-check, have your bank account and bank routing numbers ready.

5.

Phone: pay by phone toll free at (877) 445-3675.

You must know your parcel number and the amount to pay.

You may pay by credit or debit card which will incur a processing fee of 2.35% of your total bill or by e-check with a processing fee of $1.50.

When paying by e-check, have your bank account and bank routing numbers ready.

Moderator asks: [take fs] how has covid-19 impacted other infrastructure improvements in the city, including paving?

Mayor says: moderator asks: one of the biggest questions we've heard from the business community is how to be prepared for how to be community is business from the we've heard questions biggest one of the asks: moderator mayor says: moderator asks: one of the biggest questions we've heard from the business community is how to be prepared for this type of pandemic again including the potential for more waves of illness in the fall and winter.

[take fs] obviously, businesses are looking at emergency preparedness plans, what types of long-term planning efforts are you looking at for the city?

You looking at efforts are term planning types of long-plans, what preparedness emergency looking at businesses are obviously, [take fs] winter.

Fall and illness in the more waves of potential for including the again pandemic this type of prepared for how to be community is business from the business community is how to be prepared for this type of pandemic again including the potential for more waves of illness in the fall and winter.

[take fs] obviously, businesses are looking at emergency preparedness plans, what types of long-term planning efforts are you looking at for the city?

Mayor says: moderator asks: it seems like social distancing is going to be here to stay for at least awhile.

What types of things are you considering for the city in terms of for the city in considering things are you what types of awhile.

For at least here to stay going to be distancing is social it seems like asks: moderator mayor says: for the city?

You looking at efforts are term planning efforts are you looking at for the city?

Mayor says: moderator asks: it seems like asks: moderator moderator asks: it seems like social distancing is going to be here to stay for at least awhile.

What types of things are you considering for the city in terms of limiting crowds and conducting meetings virtually?

Mayor says: we have some working from home, but not all employees can do that... it is challenging... we need to think about how we position ourselves... we really need to think about efforts to keep our city employees safe and healthy.... we are in the process of adding new things in place to protect employees.... we are going to build on a ppe supply, so we are not without moving forward... we learned a lot with this covid-19 situation.... we have cancelled most in-person meetings... we have gone virtually with several, but not all... we have learned that technology can help us with meetings.... moderator asks: [take fs] this next question was sent to us by mike he would like to know... is there any place in terre haute that is still taking recycling?

With isu recycling closed, there is not a public place for drop-off.

Mayor says: response (plug city recycling program) [notes:keep live bug up] moderator asks: [take fs] how does this kind of pandemic impact economic development in the area?

Are city offices still open to obtain building permits?

Building open to obtain offices still area?

Are city the development in economic impact economic development in the area?

Are city offices still open to obtain building permits?

Mayor says: moderator asks: [take fs] we've talked about 311 quite a bit over the years what kinds of calls are you seeing?

How is the city handling these?

Mayor says: the city of terre haute has created the 311 citizen contact center to assist you in reporting any non-emergency service requests to city government or to request general local government information.

[take fs] we have operators available to take your calls in the citizen contact center weekdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm, with the exception of being closed for lunch from 12:00pm to 1:00pm daily.

We're also closed for holidays.

Here's how you can contact the 311 citizen contact center email us: 311center@terrehaute.in.gov dial 311 or 812-244-2311 from your mobile phone or landline we also have self-service options: moderator asks: moderator moderator asks: this next question comes from tom there's been conflicting reports about our local golf courses will they continue to stay open?

What is the status of the public courses in our community in the long term?

Mayor says: the long term?

Community in courses in our of the public status of the public courses in our community in the long term?

Mayor says: moderator asks: i know you are asks: moderator asks: i know you are in contact with mayors around the state on a regular basis.

What are you hearing from them and their own communities, especially in regards to what the recovery from covid-19 will look like?

Mayor says: moderator asks: the community plan, which you were co-chair of, provides a lot of information about the needs of our community.

How do you see this effort changing because of covid-19?

Mayor says: < u.s. senator todd young commends the senate's passage of additional coronavirus relief funding, including renewed funding for the paycheck protection program, economic injury disaster loans, hospitals, and expanded testing.

Last week, senator young was selected by president trump to serve on the opening up america again congressional group.

The bipartisan congressional group will provide counsel to the president on the re-opening of america in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moderator asks: i know you are in constant contact with our legislators, on the state and federal level, what advice have they offered or options they are pursuing?

Mayor says: moderator asks: going back to a financial topic city residents are wondering about the financial impact on their bank accounts.

Gas prices - what do you see as the impact of covid-19 on those personal costs?

Mayor says: [notes:keep up live bug] moderator asks: this question has been submitted to us via wthi viewers.

Ken is asking you mayor i've noticed a lot more traffic on the roads over the last couple of weeks.

I do not believe governor holcomb has mentioned fines or ticketing, but is that something that might happen to keep people at home?

Mayor says: moderator asks: we are beginning to run out of time, so mayor i wanted to give you wanted to give time, so mayor i run out of beginning to we are asks: we are beginning to run out of time, so mayor i wanted to give you enough time for some closing remarks mayor bennett: mayor closing remarks here remarks here mayor closing remarks here moderator asks: i again would like to thank wthi tv for tonight's live broadcast and wtwo for streaming this live tonight.

And thank you mayor bennett for your time and information tonight.

A copy of tonight's broadcast, along with additional information on covid-19, business resources and expanded information from both union hospital and regional hospital is on our website terrehautechamber.com.

If you have further questions for the mayor you can contact him at city hall and if you have questions for the chamber or would like to learn more please reach out to anyone on our staff or our website for details.

Thank you again for tuning in tonight stay safe and stay healthy.

Mayor talks about thfd firefighter john schoffstall who lost his life after covid-19.

This was a tough loss for the community and the city.

He will be missed dearly.

He was laid to rest over the weekend.

At the funeral, his dad said his mom was also fighting covid-19.

Local businesses need community support more than ever right now!

News 10 has put together a local business guide.

It includes: "restaurants", "shops", "health centers", an "other services".

You can see it..

Or, add your own business "over at wthi tv dot com".

You can also text "local" to 812-232-9481.

We just heard a lot from terre haute's mayor... but the challenges here are felt all around the area.

We also have some special messages from other mayors in the wabash valley.

Take a look.

"we're all in this together and we will get there.

We're all pulling together but we have to stay separate to do it.

We're all in this together, we've never experienced something like this before.

We've got to work together really, really, hard right now these last couple weeks so that we're all on the same page.

We have to be the ones that really step up and make sure that we truly are all in this together."

We thank you for joining us tonight.

Our coverage of covid-19 in the wabash valley doesn't end here.

We'll have updates tonight for you at 10 eastern on my fox 10 ..

And at 11 on news 10 nightwatch.

You can also find "coverage you can count on" at w-t-h-i t-v dot com and on "the news 10 app".

//// plus..

You can text "covid-19" to our text line.

That telephone number is 812-232-9481.

As we close ... we want to take a moment to say -- we're all in this together.

Remember..

To stay safe..

Stay healthy... and stay home.

You can help us spread this message by downloading a coloring page, and sending it back to us!

Everything you need is on the homepage at wthi tv dot com.

Have a good