By Robert Medley
Managing editor
Yukon’s City Manager Jim Crosby said Tuesday night that the city’s emergency proclamation, affecting daily lives through April 6, could be extended as reports continue that the coronavirus is spreading.
With 17 cases statewide, including two cases reported in Canadian County and six more in Oklahoma County on Tuesday, Crosby commented on the pandemic.
“We had a proclamation that went forth talking about changes that have occurred because of coronavirus,” Crosby said at the Tuesday night regular city council meeting at City Hall.
“This is a very fluid situation,” Crosby said.
Mayor Mike McEachern on Monday signed a Yukon emergency declaration, closing facilities and municipal court and affecting other operations.
Group activities at parks and gyms have been canceled.
Crosby said the city staff is monitoring changes.
“It changes pretty much hourly as to what is happening. This is something that we will keep the citizens informed with. The council has been apprised of all the changes that have been made,” Crosby said. “We’re gonna follow it very closely throughout the city and what is happening throughout the state and the nation.”
Canadian County Commissioners signed a countywide emergency and disaster proclamation Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff Chris West canceled jail visitations and limited attorney and inmate visits.
Crosby said the emergency proclamation in Yukon can be updated.
“And if necessary we will be making further adjustments to this as this progresses. We realize that ours ends April the 6th. This does not mean that it will end April 6, but it will dependent on what happens in the future,” Crosby said.
Other cities could extend declarations through April 12, he noted. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister has canceled schools statewide until Monday, April 6.
Crosby said, “We still don’t know what the school situation will be in the future depending on whether coronavirus starts to expand in our area. There are a lot of decisions that will be made.”
Elections scheduled for April 7 could be postponed, Crosby said. Yukon voters are scheduled to decide a franchise agreement with Oklahoma Natural Gas on Tuesday, April 7.
“We mentioned that that may be canceled because of the grouping of people together at the election and polling places,” Crosby said. “Again, this is a situation that does change quickly and we will do our best to keep everybody in the town and council and the people of our community informed.”
Check the Yukon Progress and yukonprogress.com for updates.
