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The original item was published from 10/2/2020 5:05:58 PM to 12/29/2020 2:34:31 PM.

News Flash

Highlights

Posted on: March 16, 2020

[ARCHIVED] COVID-19 City of Waconia Response & Resources

COVID-19 Image

On Monday, June 1, the City Hall service desk is reopen to the public. We still encourage as much work as possible to be completed via email, phone, mail, and fax. If you need anything, we encourage you to call 952-442-2184 anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. City staff can be reached via phone or email, as well as by appointment. For those coming into City Hall and meeting with staff, we ask that masks be worn. To view the City of Waconia’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, please click here (PDF Link). 

Please continue to check this page for regular updates and resources related to COVID-19. This website is updated multiple times per day, as new information comes in. 


The City of Waconia is implementing the following measures to assist with the spread of COVID-19. 

On Friday, March 20, Mayor Bloudek declared a state of emergency (link) due to COVID-19. The state of emergency provides additional tools to allow the City of Waconia to assist or receive assistance from other communities. It also makes the City eligible for potential funding. The state of emergency was extended by the City Council on March 23, 2020.

Public Services

  • Beginning Tuesday, March 17, the Public Services Building (310 10th Street East) will operate by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling 952-442-2615.
  • Water shutoffs are not currently taking place.
  • Public Services staff will assist property owners with questions by phone and will only do home visits in emergent cases. In emergent cases, PPE will be worn. 
  • Please be mindful that paper towels, baby wipes, flushable wipes, and other similar items do not break down like toilet paper and can cause sanitary sewer overflows, which in turn can cause additional public health issues. paper products other than toilet paper can clog your city sewer system, including pipes and pumps. We are asking that you do not flush anything other than toilet paper down your toilet. 
  • The annual Public Services Open House has been postponed. Please stay tuned for more information.

Utility Billing

  • We know that this is a difficult time for many of our residents and businesses and want to do our part to help. If you are having difficulty paying your monthly utility bill due to COVID-19, we encourage you to reach out to the City and we will work with you to waive penalties and come up with a plan. We can be reached at 952-442-3107.
  • Now is also a good time to double check that your contact information on your utility billing account is correct. On a regular basis, the City monitors accounts and works to contact residents who have atypical usage on their accounts. Please ensure your contact information is updated so we can reach you if needed. The best way to update your contact information is to email your address, phone number, and email address to utilitybill@waconia.org so we can update it in the City’s system. 

Community Development

  • We strongly encourage our residents to submit permits electronically. Forms can be downloaded via the City’s Planning and Zoning section of our website (link). You can download a permit online, fill it out, and submit electronically with any necessary supported documents to bstein@waconia.org. The City will call with any follow up questions and can take payment over the phone or via InvoiceCloud.
  • The May and June Planning Commission Meetings were held via Zoom. 

City Hall

  • Meeting rooms at City Hall are closed for outside use. The City is in contact with any group who has a reservation. This includes the Waconia Area Senior Center. 
  • We strongly encourage electronic or over-the-phone payments during this time. Contact 952-442-3107 or visit InvoiceCloud (link)

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

The City continues to work with local health authorities and others to advise on how best for us to work in limiting the spread of COVID-19 virus and finding a path to health and prosperity again soon. The most important thing right now is for you and your family to take all appropriate measures to prevent the spread of this virus. 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home when sick
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Your Drinking Water

  • Americans can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual. The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water. 
  • The EPA has established regulations with treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water and wastewater. COVID-19 is a type of virus that is particularly susceptible to disinfection and  standard treatment and disinfectant processes are expected to be effective. 
  • The EPA has a Q&A  (link) available that answers questions regarding COVID-19 and drinking water. 
  • The CDC has also added a section on water transmission and COVID-19 (link).

COVID-19 Symptoms

  • Patients with an diagnosed fever and/or acute respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath), even those unable to be tested, should self-quarantine for seven days after illness onset, or 72 hours after resolution of fever (without taking fever reducing medications), and improvement of respiratory symptoms. Call ahead to your health-care facility prior to seeking treatment. Ridgeview Medical Center offers testing at various locations for all symptomatic and some asymptomatic individuals. For more information visit https://www.ridgeviewmedical.org/care-treatment/infectious-disease-care/coronaviruscovid-19/  (link). 
  • Patients who can’t be tested should self isolate themselves from household and intimate contacts as much as possible. Household and intimate contacts of these individuals should limit their activities in public for 14 days after incorporating precautions in the home and monitor for symptoms.

Communication Partners

Effective communication is an important component related to managing what is now a global pandemic. We want to provide you with important resources and information on this topic. 

Additional Contacts

We recognize these are stressful and uncertain times as we all work together through the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us have had our daily lives altered with businesses closed such as restaurants, malls, and entertainment venues. Some of you may be having difficulty with childcare due to school closures or loss of employment due to business closures. We also know that this can be a particularly trying time for those struggling with mental health and relationship issues. We would like to help and offer some resources.

General Resources

  • Carver County Health & Human Services - 952-361-1600
  • CAP Agency - 952-496-2125
  • Workforce Services - 952-361-1711

Mental Health

  • Carver County 24-Hour Mental  Health Crisis Program - 1-888-302-2898
  • First Street Mental Health Center - 952-442-4437

Domestic Violance

  • Domestic Violance -  MN Day One Crisis Line - 1-866-223-1111
  • Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women - 952-873-4214

Additional Resources

Additional Meal Resources

Many schools, local restaurants, food shelves and other organizations are providing food assistance in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. These locations can be viewed by clicking here (link). 

Check back often as this map will be frequently updated.

Metropolitan Area agency on Aging & Senior LinkAge Line

  • The Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging (MAAA) and the Senior LinkAge Line’s first priority is to support older adults and help keep everyone safe. 
  • MAAA staff manage Older Americans Act funding for 35 community-based organizations that provide services for low-income older adults - services such as home-delivered meals, assisted transportation, and chore services. MAAA staff are working with these organizations to remove barriers and increase flexibility to ensure that people who need help get it.
  • Senior LinkAge Line phone services will continue. Call 1-800-333-2433 if you have any questions or need assistance. They will do your best to answer your questions and connect you with services in your community.

Additional Senior Resources

  • Juniper is offering free online classes for seniors - at a time we know it is difficult to connect in person, they are offering a "social connect" virtual class. Click this link to go to their site and sign up for classes. 

Unable to Work?

  • Governor Walz has issued an executive order to help ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available. Workers who are unemployed or who have hours reduced due to the COVID-19 outbreak are asked to apply for unemployment benefits online at uimn.org (link).
  • The website can accept applications Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please apply on the website to ensure the most efficient processing of applications during this unprecedented situation.
  • Employers can find employer-focused COVID-19 related information that is updated regularly on the Information for Employers Page (link)

Resources for Small Businesses

To all our residents: please continue to shop and eat local! This is so important for our many small businesses in town! 

The Waconia Chamber of Commerce website can be visited by clicking here (link)

The CDA has updated their website with up-to-date information and resources for businesses (link)

  • Please look at this helpful chart, created by the Carver County CDA, which lists various resources for small businesses (PDF link). 
  • The Musicant Group released this toolkit (PDF link) which provides creative ideas and resources to help businesses succeed during this difficult time. 

The State of Minnesota has created a shared worker program (PDF link) to assist businesses, as an alternative to layoffs. 


Applying for Disaster Loans

  • Minnesota’s small businesses are now eligible for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and can apply online. 

Forms to Fill out FIRST

Below is a list of documents you’ll need to provide to complete the application.

It is highly recommended that you complete your application online (link), do not mail them in. However, preparing these documents before you go to SBA.gov/disaster will streamline the process for you.\\

Loan Training for COVID-19 Related Economic Disruptions


COVID-19 Letter to Community
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