Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler sent a letter Friday to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted thanking the state officials for their swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also encouraging them to put forth details regarding the reopening of several remaining businesses, including child care centers, fitness centers and movie theaters.
He said while its been suggested that 92 percent of businesses will be reopened by mid-May, his concerns have turned to these final businesses who were previously ordered to close and now “have been left to wonder where they fit into the plan.”
“The statewide effort to educate and encourage all Ohioans to ‘stay safe’ has been effective thus far; why not trust that fitness centers and theaters (and other remaining businesses) be allowed to utilize their plans to also operate safely? I remain hopeful that you will allow these remaining businesses to reopen in May as well.”
He also cited that “our community and local public health professionals have made great strides to provide the necessary solutions to allow Logan County to return to work safely,” mentioning the local economic restart task force continues to assist businesses in these endeavors.
“I feel confident that our restaurants and salons are ready to welcome back staff and customers safely,” the mayor said of some of the businesses that soon be able to reopen their doors following recent announcements by the state.
Stahler also related that Logan County and Bellefontaine do not have some of the same risk factors as more densely populated areas.
“I recognize that concerns for more densely populated areas with elevators, mass transit and high-rise buildings present safety concerns for other communities.”
In closing, he said he was “grateful for the efforts, thus far, from the leaders in Columbus. I remain hopeful that sufficient testing supplies and PPE are able to keep up with the demand.
“Please step up any and all efforts to reopen all of our business community.”