Local News
U.S. Senator John Cornyn announed today that the City of San Angelo was awarded a federal grant of 388 thousand 646 dollars to help recover from the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The funding, which was appropriated by Congress last month, comes through the Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the CARES Act. These grants may be used for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of COVID-19, such as: public testing; providing equipment; delivering meals; training health care workers; constructing a facility for testing, diagnosis, or treatment; improving or re-purposing an existing facility for the use of housing or treating patients; and providing grants or loans to support businesses in creating jobs and manufacturing medical supplies necessary to respond to the disease
Effective immediately, the District Clerk’s Office is restricting access to the general public tentatively until April 30th. They will be re-evaluating this decision weekly. This decision was made with the health and safety of my staff and the general public in mind. The District Clerk staff will still be working answering phone calls, accepting E-Filed documents, and answering Emails. If you have an emergency or need immediate assistance that cannot be handled by a phone call or electronically, call the District Clerk’s Office at 325-659-6579.
San Angelo Police are asking residents to help stop a rumor regarding the Police and Covid-19: The San Angelo Police Department is NOT conducting Traffic Stops or Traffic Checkpoints to validate “Essential Businesses/Services Employees.” They hope to let citizens know that this is not taking place and to stop the rumors. For current information about the local Emergency Declaration visit the city's web page at "cosatx dot us."
The owners of San Angelo's Sunset Mall, Jones-Lang LaSalle announced that they have closed the mall to the public pursuant to City's Stay Home, Stay Safe Declaration. The mall will remain closed until April 30th unless terminated sooner. The property owners say the health and well-being of their employees, retailers and shoppers is their top priority. They will continue to follow the direction of the CDC and state/local authorities, but for now, Sunset Mall is closed.
Local officials say scammers are using the Small Business Administration’s name to con small businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 crisis through phone calls, emails, text messages and letters. They say If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, suspect fraud. Emails from SBA or other legitimate government agencies will always end in ".gov". Do not release any private information (social security number, date of birth, etc.) or banking information in response to an unsolicited caller, letter, email, or text. For help with applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, call 800-659-2955. If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true.
In addition to extending and clarifying the city's Disaster Declaration because of the spread of the Coronavirus, officials yestrerday approved several amendments to their order. Those are: 1. No Temporary Permits will be issued for Vendors, 2. The City Manager will enter into agreements with establishments for new shelter places for those displaced by the virus pandemic, 3. the KOA walking trail (Hillside Drive) will be closed to pedestrians, 4. There will be no late fees for water bill payments. The amendments were approved during the emergency city council meeting yesterday.
In order to align with Texas Governor Abbott’s order on Tuesday, the City of San Angelo leaders made some clarifications to their order as it relates to walking, hunting, fishing, boating and golfing.
They say public boat ramps and docks may be used for launching boats, but only members of the same household may be on a boat. There can be no congregating at ramps, docks or parking areas.
Hiking, biking, and walking trails will remain open, but at least six feet of distance must remain between people, and congregating or activities other than walking, running or biking is prohibited.
Golf courses will remain open for golf but all congregating and clubhouse and other facility activities must cease. There can be no more than two people from the same household in the same cart, and proper social distancing must occur at all times between people from different households. Any club carts or equipment must be thoroughly disinfected between users.
Any other facilities not listed may remain open but must ensure no persons from different households can interact while at the facility.
Hunting, fishing, and other solo recreation is not limited by this order if it does not occur with people outside of a single household.
Members of the San Angelo City Council met for a virtual emergency meeting yesterday afternoon. During the meeting Mayor Gunter clarified the statewide restrictions imposed by Governor Abbott and discussed what will be allowed and not allowed in the city to help protect citizens against the Coronavirus. They did not impose a "shelter in place" or "stay at home" rule. After discussions with City Staff and the City County Health Authority, Doctor Vretis, they voted unanimously to extend the declaration of a local disaster until April 30th.
The City is in standard conservation, which restricts outside watering to twice every seven days at no more than 1 inch per week and not between the hours of noon to 6 p.m. Runoff of more than 150 feet down any street, gutter, alley or ditch is also prohibited.
Water violations may be reported to the Code Compliance division either by filling out the form online at https://www.cosatx.us/departments-services/water-conservation/report-a-water-violation or by calling 325-657-4409.