The Winona Board of Aldermen are following Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’ lead in re-opening Mississippi as the state continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the urging of Dr. Keith Rushing and Tyler Holmes Memorial Hospital CEO Cori Bailey, the board agreed to extend the city’s mask order for the time being, which requires people to wear masks inside of stores and businesses open to the public. This includes employees and customers.
However, as the governor recommended this week, the Winona Recreational Park will be open to the public, without designated hours, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., as the governor initially instituted for state parks.
Alderman David Ware asked how the city would regulate that social distancing rules are being followed at the park. The governor’s order states that no more than 20 people can gather together out-of-doors.
Flowers said currently summer youth baseball teams are practicing at the park, on a rotating schedule, and parents who wish to attend are limited to social distancing around the parameter of the fence or in the stands.
Flowers said he would ask the Winona Police Department to patrol the park regularly in the evenings to break-up any gatherings over 20 people.
In addition, beauty salons, nail salons, barbers, and tattoo parlors have reopened statewide with strict regulations. Mayor Jerry Flowers reiterated the restrictions at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the board of aldermen.
“Only one client is allowed for each [employee],” Flowers said. “There can be no one waiting [inside the salon.]”
In addition to limiting the number of customers in a salon or shop, employees must wear a mask and gloves and customers must wear a mask.
As for retail establishments and restaurants, to abide by social distancing requirements, these businesses are asked to only allow 50 percent capacity inside at one time. According to Fire Chief Brad Mooneyham, that is approximately 15 square feet per customer.
In other city business:
• The board accepted the resignation of Matt Surrell from the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District Board of Trustees. Surrell has served on the board for five years and is currently board president. His resignation is due to having
The board asked Dr. Teresa Jackson to advertise in The Winona Times and on WONA that applications are currently being taken through June 15. In addition, the board asked that the district select two possible appointees to fill the remainder of Surrell’s term and present them to the board of aldermen to review. The board also asked the district to provide the board of aldermen with a list of all applicants as well, in the event the aldermen wished to look at alternative candidates for the position.
Applications are available upon request, by appointment only at Central Office or on the district’s website, www.winonamontgomerycsd.com. Applications must be mailed to WMCSD, Attn: Dr. Teresa Jackson, 218 Fairground Street, Winona, MS 38967 or emailed to wmcsd@winonaschools.net. All applications must be submitted on or before Thursday, June 18, 2020.
• The board voted to allow refunds to children who signed up to play recreational soccer and baseball at the Winona Recreational Park. Currently, children are practicing baseball, however, no games have been scheduled so far.
“Games will be scheduled once the governor gives his blessing,” said Narmour.
The spring soccer season will be pushed to September to be played during the fall soccer season.
For those wishing to be refunded for recreational soccer or baseball, contact Winona City Hall at 283-1323. Soccer refunds will be given if uniforms are returned to the city. Baseball refunds will be issued in full.
• The board asked the Winona Police Department to increase patrol on East Gamble Street, Greensboro Street, and Freeman Street to curb speeding.
• The board voted to begin condemnation proceedings on 500 Fairground Street, due to high grass, and 402 Academy Street, due to a tree lying on top of a vacant house.
• The board approved a graduation parade on Saturday, May 23 at noon in downtown Winona for the Winona-Montgomery Consolidated School District’s Class of 2020. The parade will follow the same route as the annual Christmas Parade.
• The board re-appointed Barbara Perry and Karen Willingham to another five years on the Winona Housing Commission Board of Commissioners.
• The board voted to lease two rooms at the Winona Community Center on Powell Street to North Central Planning and Development District for office space.
• The board approved the payment of a $1,000 fine to Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for an issue of non-compliance at the Winona water treatment plant. According to Flowers, the water department was reporting any outages to MDEQ once per month versus as they occur. The issue has been corrected.
