COVID-19 & SAFETY

Hi everyone, a few Tid-Bits

• North Dakota Smart, positive tests are up nationally, in North Dakota and in Barnes County.  “You know the drill” do your best to be safe.
• If you are contemplating travel out of your local community, please visit the following website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html.  There are a few easy, common sense questions that may interest you.
• Celebrate “North Dakota Share the Road Safety Week” (June 21-27) https://www.newsdakota.com/2020/06/19/north-dakota-share-the-road-safety-week-june-21-27/
  • Be safe drivers, avoid distractions like texting and remember pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks
  • Be safe riders, be alert and obey rules of the road
  • Be safe walkers and joggers, wear visible clothing and always FACE traffic, do not walk or run with traffic.  ENJOY
• “A FRIEND is one of the nicest things to have and one of the nicest things to be.”     (Charlie Brown)

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

City of Valley City Hosting COVID-19 Response Briefing on June 17

Speakers will include:

• Theresa Will – Administrator for City-County Health District
• Dr. James Buhr – M.D. and Health Officer for City-County Health District
• Gwen Crawford – City Administrator for Valley City
• Dave Carlsrud – Valley City Mayor

WHAT: Each organization will provide updates and information pertaining to recent developments in the COVID-19 community response. All officials will be available following the briefing for questions from media partners.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17 at 5:30pm

WHERE: City of Valley City – City Hall, 254 2^nd Ave NE, Valley City, ND 58072

The briefing is closed the public to honor social distancing. Members of the public can view live on City-County Health’s Facebook page, KOVC 1490 AM, BEK Channel 26 and CSI Cable 68.

COVID-19 & NOTES

• Recently the Corona Virus positives were being identified at a rate of 22 – 42 per day. Due to Blessings and a good job of social distancing, Barnes County is still holding at nine positives so keep up your good efforts.
• Saturday I had the honor of watching Captain Matt Nielson’s Guard Retirement Ceremony on Zoom. It was a heart-warming time with family, friends, and a number of fellow guard members. Family support is essential for a member of a household to serve. That said, congratulations Annette, Matt and family for your many years of service and support to our country.
• Thank you for investing in Valley City.
• City Hall’s doors will be open beginning Monday though social distancing will be required. Please do as much as of your business as you can through phone, e-mail, direct pay and the like.
• We have had a great number of Dutch Elm Diseased trees this year.  Please remove them as soon as you are able to slow the spread.  Thank you for your efforts everyone.
• City Crews and construction crews are working diligently in our community.  Please be alert and be careful when you are driving.
• “There are moments in life when you miss some people so much that you want to pick them from your dreams and HUG them for real.” (Charlie Brown)

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave Carlsrud

City facilities will reopen to the public for essential business beginning on Monday June 15 as follows.  Please respect social distancing at all times.

City Hall/Public Works Offices

Doors will be open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Cash, check and credit/debit cards will be accepted on site for Public Works payments.  Cash and check will be accepted on site for all other payments. 

COVID-19 safety measures:  Utility customers are encouraged to consider payment options that do not require an onsite visit such as auto-pay, dropboxes, or payments by phone or mail.  Call Valley City Public Works at 701-845-0380 for more information.

For assistance with general government matters, Valley City residents, visitors, and vendors are encouraged to call 701-845-1700 to speak with city officials or to request an appointment prior to stopping at City Hall or Public Works offices.  Information and forms are also readily available at www.valleycity.us.

Guests will be asked to remain in designated waiting areas while being assisted or prior to scheduled appointments.  Hand sanitizer is available throughout City Hall and Public Works.  Employees and guests may wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

City meetings will remain closed to the general public due to space limitations, as authorized by Governor’s Executive Order 2020-16.  Instructions to access specific meetings by electronic means will be posted on the meeting agendas.  Public comments regarding city business will be accepted in writing any time, or during meetings by phone or Zoom.

Transfer Station

Gates will be open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.  Cash or check will be accepted on site. 

COVID-19 safety measures:  Customers are encouraged to call Valley City Public Works at 701-845-0380 to set up a credit or debit charge account prior to visiting the Transfer Station.  Staff will not be able to assist customers with the unloading of materials.  Employees and guests may wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Police Department/Municipal Court

Doors will be open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Fingerprinting and notary services will resume on Monday June 15.

COVID-19 safety measures: Citizens are encouraged to initiate police reports by calling 701-845-3110.  Records may be requested by calling 701-845-3110 or emailing [email protected].

Municipal Court is held every other Tuesday at 9:30 AM.  All sessions of court will be held by phone until further notice.  To appear, call 701-845-8150 and enter conference ID: 981089.  For additional questions contact the Clerk of Court at 701-845-3110.

For information regarding other city facilities, please call 701-845-1700.

COVID-19 & BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM)

• This week the Corona Virus took a little “run” at us.  So as of Sunday’s report, we have had nine positive tests in Barnes County. 
• As a whole, you people have been doing a great job with your social distancing, way-to-go. J While many of us are pretty careful just because we are older and in higher risk categories, I implore you younger folks to be a bit more careful as the 20 – 40 year olds have the greatest number of positive tests followed closely by the 40 – 50 year olds.  Please be careful out there as with the greater freedoms, we need to make better decisions to remain safe.
• Today there was a Black Lives Matter Protest in City Park and a march around town.  Kudos to all involved as the program was well organized, heartfelt and peaceful.  I counted over 100 people, young and old in attendance. 
• There are many individuals out there who are hurting from persecution in one form or another.  From a personal standpoint I need to become better informed. 
• Cody, one of our Police Officers said, I’ll paraphrase, “We are here for you; communication, let’s get started”.  Wow, a few words making a powerful statement; thank you. 
• I am grateful to our local law enforcement people for working with organizers helping to ensure all could run smoothly.
• “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”     (Benjamin Franklin)

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave Carlsrud

Good News & Tragedies

• This past week has seen our ND Smart Start Restart Rating go from “Medium” to “Low” Risk.  Good news; please keep up your good work with your social distancing.
• We also endured tragedies this week.  A man in Minneapolis, George Floyd died and a police officer has been charged with a degree of murder.  In Grand Forks, another tragedy when an officer, Cody Holte was killed in the line of duty and Deputy Ron Nord was wounded.
• Life is fragile and these tragedies can’t be “undone”.  We can, however, pray for families and friends of all involved with these terrible actions.  Life is uncertain and none of us is guaranteed another day of life so “call someone”, a family member, a friend or someone you know who could be uplifted by your call to say “hi”, “thank you” or “I love you”. 
• “To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.(Charlie Brown)

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

BLESSING or CURSE

• Monday was Memorial Day.  It is a solemn day remembering all military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  Please take some time to remember a family member or friend who served our county allowing us to be free.
• Freedoms, as mentioned above, a blessing or a curse?  With “North Dakota Smart Restart” (NDSR), we can enjoy more freedoms though a wrong choice could put you and others in harms way.  Just because we are FREE to do something doesn’t mean it is the best for us.  Near us numbers of positive tests continue rising creating greater risks.  Please be smart with your decisions, as of Sunday, ND has 1265 positive tests this month.
• Our Chamber of Commerce and local businesses are diligently researching the safest ways to provide activities for this summer; watch for them. 
• Do you find yourself in a “funk” over this virus “stuff” occasionally?  I do.  One of the best things for me is to get out for a walk, mow the lawn, ride a bike, trim a tree or sometimes just stepping outside and taking some “deep cleansing breaths”.  “Get up, get dressed and get going”!
•  “To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.(Charlie Brown)

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave Carlsrud

City of Valley City Hosting COVID-19 Response Briefing on May 20

WHO: Officials from City-County Health District, City Government, and Barnes County Senior Services are expected to speak.

Speakers will include:

• Theresa Will – Administrator for City-County Health District
• Scott Magnuson – Valley City Fire Chief
• Pat Hansen – Director of Barnes County Food Pantry
• Dave Carlsrud – Valley City Mayor

WHAT: Each organization will provide updates and information pertaining to recent developments in the COVID-19 community response. All officials will be available following the briefing for questions from media partners.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 20 at 5:30pm

WHERE: City of Valley City – City Hall, 254 2^nd Ave NE, Valley City, ND 58072

The briefing is closed the public to honor social distancing. Members of the public can view live on City-County Health’s Facebook page, KOVC 1490 AM, BEK Channel 26 and CSI Cable 68.

GOOD NEWS TOO

Good day everyone, we have had a good week in Valley City.  With weather patterns becoming more “normal” and some sunshine, get out and enjoy some of the activities that provide good social distancing. 

• Bridge City Cruisers have had a couple successful Cruise Nights; there was a “Senior Parade”, along with walking, biking and maybe some chalk art.
• Cass County and other areas in out state have been hit with more cases of the virus so BEWARE, essential travel only.  We will increase our chances of avoiding the virus only if we continue a good job of social distancing.
• For Fun:  The VCFD is doing “Birthday Calls”; check them out.
• Thursday night the VCFD used its drill night to clean “The Broken Road”.  Along with the VCFD, a number of Public Works Departments contributed to the clean up as well; an aesthetic improvement for our community.
• Thank you to all teachers and administrators at VCPS and VCSU for making distance learning successful this spring.
• Census 2020 is a big deal for you all.  Please complete the form mailed to you, or complete it online so no one has to “knock” on your door; BE COUNTED!
• Please Read Measure #1 on your ballot.  It is important for the completion of your Permanent Flood Protection.
• We will have another 5:30 Press Briefing Wednesday, our guests are Pat Hansen and Scott Magnuson. Please join us.
• “The most beautiful way to begin and end the day is with a Grateful Heart. (Charlie Brown)

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud