Following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and local health officials, the City of Temple will close city-run facilities to public, walk-in traffic beginning Thursday, March 19.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Public Relations Manager Laurie Simmons wrote that the  measure is meant to minimize public contact and fully implement social distancing guidelines to protect the health and safety of residents.

The closures will affect government buildings, museums, community centers, pools, and recreational and rental facilities.

City services will remain available to citizens online, by phone, or by appointment only.

Simmons provided the following list of details:

  • The Temple Police Department lobby will remain open, but residents are urged to report crimes online or call ahead whenever possible, and appointments must be made for fingerprinting. The Police Department’s main number is 254-298-5500.
  • Drive-thru service for water bill payments will remain open at the Utility Billing Office located inside the Municipal Court Building on 3rd Street in Downtown Temple. Residents can also pay their bills online. The City is suspending cutoffs for water utility services during this declared pandemic to ensure health and safety can be maintained.
  • The Temple Public Library will still be offering books and other materials for check-out with curbside delivery service, but residents are asked to call ahead (254-298-5556) or place a hold online for their requested materials. There are also online e-book services available to those with a library card through the Temple Public Library Website.
  • All outdoor parks, as well as Sammons Golf Course, will remain open at this time, but park restrooms will be closed. All city recreation classes and leagues are cancelled. Organized sports teams will not be allowed to use any city-owned outdoor fields, but they will remain open for individual citizen use.
  • All events held by the City and at City rental facilities will be cancelled immediately, including the Mayborn Convention Center, Gober Party House, and the city’s sports fields. Bloomin’ Temple, scheduled for the last weekend in April, will also be cancelled. In addition, the City of Temple will be moving our scheduled Police Chief Community Open House next week to a virtual setting, with more details to come on how the public can participate.
  • The City Council Workshop and Meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, March 19, will still take place, with city staff implementing social distancing guidelines. For more information on times and updated locations, view the agenda here.
  • For essential emergency response and solid waste collection, those services will continue to be provided without interruption.

City officials are reminding everyone to take precautions recommended by the Bell County Health District, including the following:

  • Stay home if you are sick and avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw the tissue away.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touches objects and surfaces with a disinfectant.
  • Don’t travel to areas with active community spread of COVID-19.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water regularly and use hand sanitizers with at least 60% of alcohol content when soap and water are not available.
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