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Letter to the editor

Since we are in the midst of a national emergency, I would like to offer out citizens a look into what the Town of Tryon is doing and planning to do to help our citizens weather this virus. As of this time, we have had NO cases of Covid 19 in Tryon or Polk County; however, that does not mean that we should let our guard down.

I have said this on more than one occasion: “Follow the instructions of your health care professionals.”

If we do this and take a common sense approach to the declared pandemic, and if we exercise good planning as we make our decisions, we will do just fine.

The Town of Tryon, under the guidance of Town Manager Zack Ollis, has planned a number of scenarios that will help us keep an even keel if we go into a national or statewide shutdown.

The following will be implemented almost immediately:

• We are closing Town Hall for a week and then we will re-evaluate the situation.
• The water plant has a succession of certified individuals should a worker there contract the virus.
• The sewer plant has the same thing in its scenario.
• The payment of all bills would move to online and the credit card fee would be waived for the duration of the emergency.
• Water would not be cut off during the declared emergency so as to allow people access to soap and water since it seems to be one of the best defenses against this virus.
• Much of the Tryon Public Works Department would be at home but would be on call through the Public Works Director and the Tryon Police Department.
• Both the Tryon Fire Department and the Tryon Police Departments will still operate on a 24 hour schedule. Tryon dispatch only runs from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. each day.

If you have an after-hours emergency that is medical or in need of the police call 911. If you have an after-hours emergency that is not health related, please call 859-6654, and the message will ask if you have an emergency [water line break, sewer problem, or other problem for public works] the instructions will ask you to press a number and you will be transferred to a person who will take your information.

Let’s work together to protect all of our citizens and weather this storm like true Tryonites. Remember Nearly Perfect, Always Tryon.

J Alan Peoples

Tryon, NC