Message from the
Village President, Julie Siegel
I want to thank the North Shore Health Department for their continued hard work and guidance during this public health emergency. Please note that changes to Village operations can be found below. To subscribe to our newsletter,
click here.
|
|
Why is Village Hall's Phone Ringing?
|
|
How long is the Whitefish Bay Public Library closed?
The Whitefish Bay Public Library is closed until further notice. However, check out the story below for virtual activities and digital resources offered by the Library.
|
|
Have a question?
The Village Hall phone number is 414-962-6690.
|
|
 |
This Week's Meetings:
No meetings this week. The Village will be using GoToMeeting for upcoming meetings as permitted by Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Laws. The call-in number and passcode will be included on each meeting agenda.
|
|
|
|
Last Week's Meetings:
No meetings last week. For other m
eeting agendas and minutes, plea
se visit the
Agenda Center
page on the Village Website.
|
|
|
|
Weekly North Shore Health Department Update:
|
|
COVID-19: March 20, 2020 UPDATE:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI DHS) and the North Shore Health Department (NSHD), along with other local health departments are responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus, COVID-19. For the most current information on the COVID-19, please visit the
CDC's website on COVID-19 or
www.nshealthdept.org.
Cases in Wisconsin are on the rise:
As of March 20th, 2020, Wisconsin has 206 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 88 being in Milwaukee County and a sizable number of these from communities in the North Shore area. There is substantial evidence of community spread in Milwaukee, Dane and Kenosha counties. This means that there are people who have tested positive, and it is unknown what their exposures have been. They have had no exposures to a known case and have not traveled to a location where there is community transmission. With community spread, the message is to stay home, especially if you are ill. If you think you may have exposed or are ill and an underlying health condition or need medical care, contact your healthcare provider about the need to be tested and to get medical care.
Updated Mass Gathering Ban - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) under the direction of Governor Evers has updated the ban on public gatherings of 10 or more people:
The update orders additional businesses to close their doors. As of 5 p.m. Friday, March 20, all hair salons, day spas, nail salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors, body art establishments, and tanning facilities must close.
The full order can be found here.
Restaurants and bars throughout the state are still restricted from having any indoor seating. Take-out, including drive-thru services, and delivery services are still permitted. Social distancing should be practiced by maintaining six feet between customers during pick-up.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) released a guide for Dental Health Care Professionals:
In the guide, DHS strongly recommends that dental practices postpone all elective and non-urgent care dental services starting immediately until after the public health emergency has passed.
The full memo can be found here: Click Here.
DHS released helpful flyers for businesses and organizations to post as a reminder to the public about safe practices:
One of the flyers is intended to be posted at stores and reminds shoppers to disinfect their cart or basket, maintain a 6 foot distance between other shoppers, and avoid stockpiling:
Grocery Shopping Flyer: Click Here.
The other flyer addresses staying safe in other public areas that offer essential services, such as food pantries, homeless shelters, grocery stores, and others.
“Staying Safe” Flyer: Click Here.
CONTINUES BELOW...
|
|
Request for Residents to Absentee Vote: In the interest of public safety and welfare, the Village of Whitefish Bay is urging ALL voters to vote by mail for the April 7, 2020 election. Absentee ballots are being mailed as requests are processed.
Please continue to pass this message along, particularly if you know neighbors that don’t typically check social media or the newsletter. Voting by mail is easy and secure. Absentee ballots can be requested in one of the following ways:
Voters who have not previously submitted a copy of their photo ID to vote by mail will need to include a copy of their ID with their request. If you are not sure whether you need to do so, please include a copy to avoid any delay in processing.
In addition, all registered voters should have received an Absentee Ballot Application by mail at their home address.
You can ignore this mailing if you have already filled out an application.
The deadline to request a ballot by mail is 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 2, 2020. However, please request ASAP to ensure timely delivery. Thank you for your continued cooperation during this most difficult time.
Deadline for returning your absentee ballot: Your completed absentee ballot must be received by 8:00 pm on Election Day.
Offices to be elected include: Presidential Preference Vote, Justice of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals Judge, Circuit Court Judges, Village President, and Village Trustees & School Board Members.
If you would like further information about elections or registering to vote, please contact Deputy Clerk Caren Brustmann at (414) 962-6690 ext. 122.
|
|
Status Update from the Whitefish Bay Public Library: The Whitefish Bay Public Library will be closed until further notice. The safety of our patrons and employees is a priority to Whitefish Bay Public Library (WFBPL). We are working to stay on top of this evolving COVID-19 situation by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, WI Department of Health Services, and the North Shore Health Department. Email questions to
reference@wfblibary.org. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these unusual times.
To stay up to date on library information check this page.
- Due Dates, Holds and Fines
- How to Get an Updated Card to Access Digital Materials
- Programming and Services
|
|
|
|
Reminders - Village Operational Changes:
|
|
Village Hall:
- Village Hall is closed to the public until Monday, April 13, 2020 unless modified. The Village Board will revisit this issue on Monday, April 6, 2020.
- Village Hall staff will report to work throughout the closure period. Phone lines (414-962-6690) will remain operational and staff will answer calls during normal business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm).
Village Meetings:
- The Village will be using GoToMeeting for upcoming meetings as permitted by Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Laws. The call-in number and passcode will be included on the associated meeting agenda. Meeting agendas can be found here.
Payments:
- Property Taxes, Utility Bills, Parking Permits, and Citations can be paid online by clicking here. Credit card processing fees have been temporarily waived.
- Utility Bills scheduled to be mailed in April will be postponed to May.
- Property Tax 2nd Installment Due March 31: How Do I Make a Payment?
- On the Village Website: From website, click “Online Payments” on middle of the page and select “Pay Property Taxes.” Credit card processing fees have been temporarily waived.
- By Mail: Make check payable to the Village of Whitefish Bay. Send check to Village of Whitefish Bay, 5300 N. Marlborough Drive, Whitefish Bay, 53217.
- 24-Hour Night Depository: Located in entrance of Village Hall.
- At Associated Bank (430 E Silver Spring Drive, Whitefish Bay, 53217). Payments may be through the Drive Through Lane (No Cash) or Drop Box. Receipts will be mailed.
Elections:
- The Village is urging ALL voters to request an absentee ballot for the April 7, 2020 election. Click here to request a ballot online or see the story above for more information.
- If the State of Wisconsin does not amend the requirement to provide in-person absentee voting/registration hours, Village Hall will be open solely for that purpose on days/times posted here.
Police and Fire Services:
- The Whitefish Bay Police Department and North Shore Fire Department both continue to operate 24x7 at full strength and full deployment.
- There will be no ticketing for overnight parking until April.
Refuse and Recycling:
- At this time, refuse and recycling collection and other DPW services are proposed to continue subject to compliance with CDC guidelines/directives regarding social distancing, hygiene, etc. However, replacement of water meters within homes will temporarily be discontinued.
Court:
Building Services:
|
|
Event and Program Cancellations and Delays:
|
|
Village Programs:
- Rx Take Back Day: Prescription Drug Take Bay Day scheduled for April 25, 2020 at Village Hall is CANCELLED.
- Large/Bulky Item Drop Off: Resident drop off at the Shorewood Transfer Station has been CANCELLED for April 4, 2020 and April 18, 2020.
Recreation Department Programs:
- "55 and Better" Programs: For the health and well being of our older adults all "55 and Better" programs have been temporarily CANCELLED until April 13, 2020. I look forward in serving to make our community even stronger through social, health, wellness and educational programs! Thank you for your support! - Carolyn Noori "55 and Better" Senior Event Program Coordinator and Supervisor.
Special Events:
- Bay Day (Green Day in the Bay, Voice of the Bay): With our friends at the Merchants of Whitefish Bay, the WFB Education Foundation, and the Village, we have decided to POSTPONE our annual Bay Day event previously scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2020. Stay tuned for a future event notice.
- Run the Bay: Given the current developments due to the Covid-19 virus’ spread in Wisconsin, the Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation Board has decided to POSTPONE the Run the Bay event previously scheduled for May 2, 2020. We are working on setting another date if possible, depending on how events unfold at this unpredictable time. Registration is now closed. We regret any inconvenience this causes but we do not wish to risk the health of any participants. We will post a new date and reopen registration when further information is available. We wish you all health and safety.
|
|
Weekly North Shore Health Department Update:
|
|
CONTINUED FROM ABOVE...
Key Points from Previous Briefings (March 16-20, 2020):
Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have arrived in the North Shore: CDC Officials are basing themselves out of our North Shore offices to help with the COVID-19 response in southeast Wisconsin as part of everyone’s efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in our community.
Playgrounds throughout the North Shore area are now closed: Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the playgrounds throughout the North Shore are closed. Please refrain from using the playground equipment. This is to slow the spread of the virus and preserve the health of our community. Additionally, gatherings such as playdates, sleepovers, parties, large family dinners, visitors in your home, and non-essential workers in your house should be avoided. Practicing social distancing is essential to slow the spread of the virus, as is washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces frequently. Thank you for your cooperation and your efforts to stop the spread.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) released clarification on the 10 or more people restriction for restaurants: Restaurants and bars have been directed to end dine in service and only provide take-out or delivery. No seating may be provided, and food may not be consumed at the restaurant. Online and phone orders can be picked up and paid for in person at your establishment provided the social distancing requirements are met. Orders can also be made onsite, limiting the total number of customers in the restaurant at a time to a maximum of 10, if a social distancing of 6 feet between customers can be maintained during order, payment and pickup.
The Wisconsin DHS released an order for restrictions on childcare facilities: Childcare facilities are being asked to limit their staff to 10 people at one time and allow a maximum of 50 children to be present at any given time. Click
here for the full order.
NSHD is NOT currently providing testing for COVID-19: If you are experiencing severe symptoms or need medical assistance, contact your physician. They are in charge of deciding who should be tested and will base their decision off of new priority criteria released by the WI DHS on March 17th. Doctors have been directed to use a tiered system to decide who should be tested.
Details on this can be found here. Hospitalized patients are the priority for testing.
Receiving a negative test result does not mean you do not have the disease. If you were exposed within a few days of testing, you could still develop the disease even with a negative test result at an earlier date. Additionally, no treatment is available upon a positive result. Staying home and following self-isolation and self-monitoring guidelines is the best course of action. Visit the
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) website for more guidance.
If you are experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms, testing is not recommended. Assume you have disease, or another disease that is transmissible, and practice precautionary measures (recently updated by DHS): self-isolate in your home and self-monitor your symptoms. It is recommended that this isolation period end when:
- At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
- 2. At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery, defined as resolution of fever without the use of medication AND improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)
NSHD is providing local public health support through a variety of channels:
- Surveillance: We are monitoring cases through multiple websites including WI DHS, CDC and Johns Hopkins.
- Investigations: We will respond to notifications of positive and pending cases in the North Shore and initiate contact investigations with confirmed cases.
- Containment: NSHD uses federal and state guidelines to assess risk of exposure to COVID-19 and determine need for quarantine and monitoring.
- Mitigation: NSHD has been working with school districts to support their decisions to close for four weeks from March 16th until April 16th. NSHD supports the four-week closure to allow teachers time to prepare distance and virtual learning opportunities, encompass spring break and allow a 14-day, post spring break travel quarantine for staff and students who may have traveled to communities with COVID-19 spread. After 14 days individuals who have travelled over spring break will have passed the 14-day quarantine time frame. The four-week recommendation will be reassessed based on the impact of COVID-19 in our communities.
- Communication: For the most current information on the COVID-19, please visit the CDC's website on COVID-19 or WI DHS's website on COVID-19. NSHD has issued a press release and hosted a press conference on March 13th, 2020 when our initial case was announced. Any new case announcements will be made as part of Milwaukee County’s daily press briefings.
Additional information about COVID-19 is on our website at
www.nshealthdept.org. If you are concerned about your risk of getting COVID-19 or have recently traveled to an affected area, please contact the North Shore Health Department at 414-371-2980.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
