President's Letter:
Dear Neighbors –
I hope this letter finds everyone in good health! While we have a stay-at-home order and are practicing social distancing, it is nice to wave to neighbors and friends walking in the distance. It is good to see the Village busy with families walking and riding bikes (all at a 6-foot distance).
Our house has been busy with reading, eLearning, playing games, and trying to get outside every day. I’m also happy to say that we have finally entered the 1980s. We recently bought a video game system that has 600 games from the ‘80s. We have had to limit it to the weekends, though, because Super Mario Brothers has become a little addictive.
On to VRA news…
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our Fire Station visit in March due to the Coronavirus outbreak. We hope to reschedule the visit for later this year.
The VRA has reserved Elm Street Green for the afternoon of May 17 to host our first VRA spring potluck. The timing is close to the edge of the ban for gathering as large groups so we’ll be keeping a close eye on the guidelines. Hopefully it will be safe to go forward with the potluck because it will be a great opportunity to enjoy the spring weather and catch up with our neighbors. I will send out more information as the date gets closer.
Finally, please remember our Zionsville and Village merchants during this uncertain time. I know that as Village residents we are all very aware of the shuttered restaurants and merchants on Main Street but I would be remiss to not mention it. I am sure they would all appreciate anything you could do to support them, such as takeout, delivery, or gift cards.
Have a happy Easter and enjoy the spring weather! I hope all of you and your families stay healthy and safe.
Julia
president@zvra.com
Town Council:
What a difference a month can make. Perhaps that’s the understatement of this newsletter, but it certainly has been eventful.
The Town, like many organizations, has implemented our own disaster recovery and business continuity plans. Most of these are structured around responding to short-term disasters like a tornado, and need to be updated to reflect a reality that may shift into months.
Fire Chief VanGorder has been coordinating daily updates to staff, Mayor and Council on how various departments are responding, what needs they have and any issues. The good news is that the Town continues to function and operate at 100% capacity. Police and fire are at full strength (and perhaps above full strength as school resource officers have been re-deployed to street duty while schools remain closed). Various departments like street, stormwater, wastewater and planning continue their plans and services even as Town Hall has been closed.
From a Council perspective, we are making plans on how to hold meetings for critical agenda items while keeping staff and the public safe. The State is allowing us to hold virtual meetings (one member must be physically present), although we have yet to have our first meeting since our new reality has set in. All meetings will continue to be posted for public notice, open to the public to watch live, and will be recorded for future reference. We remain committed to Mayor Styron’s pledge towards transparency and openness.
While these are unprecedented times, I remain optimistic about a positive outcome and the spirit of America to weather this storm as we have in the past. Please make sure to do your part in maintaining social distancing, limiting trips whenever necessary and staying home while sick. Also, please remember to check in on your neighbors, especially those that are elderly or infirmed, to make sure they are coping with this situation both physically and mentally.
Take care and email me if you have any questions or concerns.
