City addresses impact of COVID-19

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Pandemic updates from City Hall

City Hall establishes procedures to promote safety and efficiency

The building reopened to the public on Monday, July 6, at 8 a.m. Whenever possible, please continue to conduct business online, by phone, email, regular mail or using the drop box. A new dropbox has been installed on the circular drive, which will make it easy to drop off items without needing to leave your vehicle.

When entering City Hall, expect to see some changes. Clear plastic sheeting has been installed around the reception desk. Visitors are advised to keep six feet apart from others. There are place markers on the floor that show where people should stand when doing business in the front lobby. Masks need to be worn inside; if you don’t have one, we will provide you with one.

Do not enter City Hall if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath. Please refrain from using the City Hall restrooms. The drinking fountain is not in service. The elevator is in use but plan to ride it alone or only with those in your party.

Meetings at City Hall have been switched to online meetings in accordance with the governor's executive order. Agendas and links are available on the website and in City News.

Government websites with updates on COVID-19

A pandemic of respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus called COVID-19 is being closely monitored by local, state and federal health agencies. The outbreak continues to expand in the United States, including Michigan, and in many countries. Michigan is under a state of emergency to maximize efforts to slow the spread of this disease.

For the latest health news about COVID-19, visit these websites:

Oakland County Health Dept.

Wayne County Health Dept.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Michigan.gov/coronavirus

Business owners and operators who are looking for guidance in re-opening their businesses when the State of Michigan permits it will have a "go-to" resource in the Michigan COVID-19 Business Response Center website.

It contains information regarding state and federal government updates, state return to work guidelines and other industry practices. In addition, the CDC also has a webpage with information for businesses and offices that have reopened.

There are several testing sites in the Northville area for people in need of a COVID-19 diagnostic test. To view a statewide list, visit the State of
Michigan/coronavirus website page on testing. If you live in Oakland County, you may also visit the web page for COVID-19 testing for local sites and updates. Wayne County directs viewers to the State of Michigan website for test sites.

COVID-19 testing is available to any resident of the tri-county region (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County) through Coronavirus Community Care Network with an indoor site at the Joseph Walker Williams Community Center, 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd.

To schedule an appointment (no prescription needed), call 313-230-0505. Testing is offered daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m

Michigan recently received additional federal dollars to help provide meals to older adults as the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. These programs enable Michigan residents 60 years and older to obtain meals through home delivery and pick-up services.

The need for these services has increased as measures to slow transmission of COVID-19 have left many family caregivers unable to assist older loved ones. To abide by physical distancing of at least six feet, meal sites have also been temporarily closed, including the noon-time meal provided at Allen Terrace, the City-owned and operated senior resident community. Residents registered for the congregate program have been receiving food delivery that covers multiple meals during the week, through the program managed by Wayne County and a local Area Agency on Aging.

“COVID-19 is a threat to Michiganders, particularly older adults who are most vulnerable to complications related to the virus,” said Dr. Alexis Travis, senior deputy director of the Aging & Adult Services Agency at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). “Nutrition services are a lifeline for the nearly 100,000 older adults we serve through these programs. We are pleased to have additional resources to ensure more older adults have access to meals during this time.”

Seniors who need extra support at this time can now sign up for assistance, including meal delivery, delivery of non-perishable food items, and daily wellness-check calls, through the MDHHS coronavirus website.

Northville Senior Services, part of the Northville Parks and Recreation Dept., also offers wellness checks conducted by local volunteers. To learn more, contact Joyce Drever at 248.305.2851 (between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday – Friday) or by email.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law on March 18, provides the additional funding for the nutrition services programs authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965. Michigan received approximately $7.5 million to fund meals for older adults through a program managed by local Area Agencies on Aging.

In addition to meals, Older Americans Act programs provide a wide range of services, such as help with bathing and dressing, rides to doctors’ offices, education on managing chronic illnesses, support for family caregivers, and much more. Provided by a network of community-based organizations, such as Area Agencies on Aging, local community and senior centers, faith-based organizations, and other non-profit service providers, these programs work together to help millions of older adults each year stay healthy and live independently.

Older adults who need assistance can request help through the MDHHS coronavirus website or contact their local Area Agency on Aging.

The Northville Chamber of Commerce typically holds a “State of the Community” each spring with updates from leaders from the City of Northville, Northville Township and the Northville School District. Who could have ever imagined that this year’s event would be dashed by a pandemic?

As a means of checking in during the COVID-19 health crisis, a Northville Chamber podcast was recorded April 7 at the Hanger (formerly known as The Village Workshop) to gauge the pulse of the greater Northville community.

The co-hosts were Jamie Flanagan, owner of Podcast Detroit, and Matt Fox, his business partner and a communications teacher at Fraser High School. Guests were Township Supervisor Bob Nix; Township Manager Todd Mutchler; Northville School District Superintendent Mary Kay Gallagher; Rebecca Pek, director of Personnel Development and Quality Assurance for the school district; Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull; Northville City Manager Pat Sullivan; and Dave Cole, co-owner of Great Harvest Bread. Several City Council members were also on the call. Nearly everyone called in, so social distancing wasn’t an issue.

The lively and informative program covered a wide range of complex and common problems caused by the pandemic. The conversation touched on policing gatherings in parks, yard waste pick-up, educating students at home, and putting take-out orders in the driver’s trunk to minimize risk of exposure. One community leader said “there has been a huge cooperative effort between the surrounding communities” on ways to deal with the difficulties caused by the pandemic and keep services and programs operating as smoothly as possible.

Northville Chamber Executive Director Jody Humphries managed the podcast, the fifth in a series of topics that impact the business community. Listen to it here (in solitude).

Restaurants have re-opened in downtown Northville at 50 percent capacity and continue to offer carry-out and delivery service. Many are extending outdoor dining through the fall with the aid of heaters and tents whenever possible.

There are nearly 20 restaurants providing exceptional menu choices to diners who have a taste for great food and refreshing beverages.

View the DDA’s website and social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to find out what's happening at your favorite restaurant.

Restaurant interior

Los Tres Amigos, Northville's newest restaurant, is open with dining indoors and outdoors. Photo by Liz Cezat.

Beginning July 1, parking restrictions from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. on streets and in City parking lots are back in effect after having been lifted during the shelter-in-place period.

The City provides overnight parking permits for $60 per year ($5 per month). Each of the downtown parking lots have spaces identified for overnight parking. If you need to temporarily park on the street overnight in a residential area, contact the Police Dept. at 248-305-2790 to obtain a waiver.

Since April, the City has been holding meetings online using the Zoom meeting platform. A few days prior to the scheduled meeting, the log-in information is posted with notice of the meeting, either on the City Council page (for their meetings on the first and third Monday of the month) or on the Agendas and Minutes page for meetings of the Planning Commission, Historic District Commission and others.

Since public gatherings were halted under the governor's executive order while online meetings for municipalities were allowed, City Hall cancelled in-person meetings, effective March 18. In-person meetings will resume in the future, pending State Health Dept. orders. For details about the City's online meetings, including how to log-on and what to expect, please view this news article.

City addresses impact of COVID-19

City Hall establishes procedures to promote safety and efficiency

The State of Michigan has set up a COVID-19 hotline to field questions. It is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-888-535-6136.