City Reinstates Masking Requirement for Unvaccinated Employees
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[SPRINGFIELD CITY EMPLOYEE NEWS EXTRA ] August 2021 City reinstates masking requirement for unvaccinated employees, reactivates vaccine incentive program By Jason Gage, City Manager, for the SCENE determined to be eligible Float and Hike In late May, we were hoping to see the COVID-19 upon reviewing each Fridays Aug. 13 & 27: specific circumstance. 5:30-7:30 p.m. virus fade away and not come back in our lifetime; Lake Springfield Boathouse however, the new more contagious delta variant We do anticipate the need for this option for A guided float and hike combined with the community vaccination rate along the James River below 50% has caused a major surge in local virus those that must care for a Water Trail. Launch at Lake cases. Our county is averaging nearly 200 new cases minor child if their child Springfield and paddle to per day, and the hospitals are at overflow capacity has been quarantined the Springfield Conservation with over 260 active patients. 92% of our new cases by their childcare Nature Center for a hike. are individuals that have not been vaccinated. Those provider or school. The Paddle back downstream to detailed protocols and Lake Springfield Boathouse, that have been vaccinated generally have much guidelines are available where we have snacks. Ages milder symptoms. 8-12 yrs. must be in a boat Our organization has lost two employees to this on CityShare. Please take with an adult; ages 13-17 yrs. virus and seen many employees hospitalized. time to review this information. must have parent/guardian The current rise in cases is making more employees You will continue to see an ongoing effort to on the water. Register by sick and starting to affect our ability to deliver encourage vaccination within our organization. the day before – Fee: $30/ I certainly understand the variety of reasons some person, or FREE for all City services. We truly hope never to go back to our employees, courtesy of prior COVID-19 mitigating efforts; however, we are hesitant to get vaccinated; however, medical InBalance. Call 417-833- have a responsibility to keep our organization and science tells us the odds of the COVID-19 vaccines 8647 to register through community safe. As a result, to mitigate the impacts either having a harmful effect or not providing a InBalance. Space is limited. of this new virus surge, the following COVID-19 high level of protection is minuscule compared to the ParkBoard.org/Outdoor. measures went into effect July 26. odds of avoiding serious illness, hospitalization, and First, all employees are again required to wear possibly death if not vaccinated. approved face coverings during work hours and As long as the COVID-19 virus is alive it can under the same guidance that was previously create a more harmful variant. We cannot allow that applied with one exception. Those employees to happen. Please know that I am quite proud of Watercolor USA that can demonstrate to their supervisor they are the ongoing dedication of our Health Department Closes Aug. 29 fully vaccinated will not be required to wear a employees and the effort all of us have made to Springfield Art Museum face covering, though they can do so if they wish. continue to provide quality services to our citizens. The 60th exhibition of Medical science clearly indicates that vaccinated As a public service provider, our mission is to protect Watercolor USA, a national, individuals have a much lower chance of contracting and to serve. It is not to spread disease to each other annual juried exhibition and spreading the disease. or the community. Please always remember this and recognizing aqueous media be safe. painting, closes at the end Second, we will once again offer the City’s of the month. The event vaccination incentive of a $20 gift card and a paid aims to attract the best in day off for any employee that becomes vaccinated by contemporary American the end of September. Those employees vaccinated watermedia and strives to after the termination of the original incentive period exhibit work by artists who are also eligible to receive this incentive. are pushing the boundaries of the medium. sgfmuseum. We will also continue to review requests for org/246/Watercolor-USA. temporary remote work for those employees Katie Towns named Springfield driver yielding Springfield Lasers Springfield-Greene rate at crosswalks reaches to play 26th season Act with Compassion: Treat others with kindness County Health Director 55% in November and honesty. 3 5 12 2021 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled due to COVID-19 concerns As a partner in the [SPRINGFIELD CITY Birthplace of Route 66 EMPLOYEE NEWS EXTRA Festival, the City of ] Springfield canceled the EDITOR 2021 Birthplace of Route 66 Cora Scott Festival due to COVID-19 MANAGING EDITOR concerns. The 2021 festival Melissa Haase was planned for Aug. 13-14. DESIGNER A surprise kick-off concert Rebecca Pfitzner that would have been announced for Aug. 12 is also PHOTOGRAPHER Christopher Akins canceled. The festival steering committee COPY EDITORS unanimously decided to host socially Julie Greer Sharon Smith distanced, safe vaccination opportunities in Sharon Spain the festival space Aug. 13-14, 2021 with the hope that we can hold the festival in 2022. The SCENE is published monthly by the City of Springfield, “Obviously, we are very disappointed. 840 Boonville, P.O. Box 8368, After having to cancel the 2020 festival, we Springfield, MO 65801 were so looking forward to 2021,” said Cora [email protected] to Comments and articles which appear in The SCENE do not necessarily reflect the Scott, director of Public Information & Civic request the refund. views or opinions of City administration Engagement for the City of Springfield and Festival vendors should contact Tom Mast or any employee thereof, but are for festival steering committee member. “With information only. Permission to reprint at [email protected] or 417- material may be obtained from the our region’s low vaccination rate against 402-9876. Exhibitors should contact Shirley Department of Public Information, COVID-19, the resulting surge of infections Robbins at 417-773-7714. Musical acts and (417) 864-1010. is overwhelming our hospitals and making motorcycle show vendors and exhibitors our community sick. We feel it is just not safe should contact Laura Dannegger at laurad@ to bring tens of thousands of people from autoinjury.com or 417-889-1400. all over the world to this community for any HOW TO CELEBRATE ROUTE 66 BETWEEN reason.” NOW AND NEXT SUMMER "We think this is the right thing • Explore local sections of Route 66 MISSION to do to protect participants, and support the local restaurants and We are committed to retailers. working with the community to staff, spectators (who come • Experience the Route 66 Food Truck provide ethical and responsible local government so that everyone from all around the world) and Park on St. Louis Street, just west of the can enjoy the benefits of living our community." – Cora Scott Rail Haven Motel on Glenstone. and working in Springfield. • Visit the History Museum on the Square “The 2019 festival’s attendance was 65,000 with its outstanding exhibits, one of Additional City info over two days, and we were projecting to top which is all about Route 66. is available on our Web site at 75,000 this year. We think this is the right www.springfieldmo.gov. • Pay a visit to the Route 66 Car Museum Videos may be viewed on CityView thing to do to protect participants, staff, at College Street and Kansas Expressway. on the Web or on Mediacom spectators (who come from all around the Owner Guy Mace has assembled an channels 15.1 and 80 and AT&T world) and our community. We will again incredible collection and it’s available U-verse channel 99. offer full refunds to those who have already throughout the year in your own registered and paid. We will start fresh with backyard. SCENE Deadline 2022 registrations in the spring of 2022,” she • Check out the public art along Route August 20, 2021 added. 66. Visit sculpturewalkspringfield.org Car and motorcycle show participants, to check out the current Scuplture Walk Please direct your submissions to the Department of Public musical acts, vendors and exhibitors should Springfield collection and print out a map Information. Submissions and of the sculpture locations. have been notified about the cancellation. ads via e-mail are preferred: Car show participants who registered • Take a virtual trip down the Mother [email protected] online with a credit card should log in to Road with the story map created by City the festival’s EventBrite page and request of Springfield Geographic Information a refund. Participants who registered Systems staff. printed on recycled paper with cash or a check should email The annual National Night Out event at Meador Park, scheduled for Aug. 3, has also been canceled for the second year in a row. 2 SCENE Katie Towns named Springfield-Greene Department of Workforce Development launches County Health Director new podcast City Manager Jason mental health and her Gage has formally role in coordinating a The Department of Workforce selected Katie Towns regionwide mental health Development in conjunction with the City as director of health needs assessment for of Springfield launched a new podcast for Springfield-Greene the community resulted series exploring topics related to Workforce County effective in additional resources Development, economic vitality and quality July 18. Towns has and improved care for of place. The first episodes were released served as acting individuals with mental July 27 and will be available on most major director the past five health concerns.