Updated at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, March 17
The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has greatly impacted communities across the nation and around the world. Following is a summary on the status of several City of Benbrook events and community facilities.
Please be aware that Benbrook Mayor Jerry Dittrich has issued an official order prohibiting the public or private gathering of 250 people or more, discouraging high-risk people from attending events with 10 or more people, and encouraging safe practices. Read the full Order. The Mayor also has issued an official Declaration of Local Disaster.
We will be updating this article as new information comes in, so please check back regularly. Note that this is not a complete report on the status of every local business or organization.
City Council and City Board and Commission meetings will continue until further notice. The next City Council meeting is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Benbrook City Hall.
City Hall, 911 Winscott Road, currently remains open, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 817-249-3000.
The Community Center, 228 San Angelo, is closed until further notice.
The Benbrook Senior Citizen Center, 1010 Mercedes, is closed until further notice.
Municipal Court currently remains open, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, the Court is rescheduling defendants, jurors, and witnesses set for a hearing or trial, and traffic citation due dates are extended. See below for more information.
The Texas Department of Transportation public meeting about the improvements to RM 2871, scheduled for March 19, has been cancelled. For more information, visit their website or call 817-370-3519.
The Touch-a-Truck event, scheduled for March 23, has been postponed.
Census Day, scheduled for April 1, has been cancelled.
The Farmers Market, scheduled for April 5, has been cancelled.
The Benbrook Community Center/YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, a separate entity from the City, remains open. Get updates on their website or Facebook page, or by calling 817-249-0500.
The Benbrook Public Library, a separate entity from the City, is closed through the end of March. Get updates on their website or Facebook page, or by calling 817-249-6632.
Benbrook Water Authority, a separate entity from the City, remains open. Get updates on their website or Facebook page, or by calling 817-249-1250.
Fort Worth Independent School District, of which Benbrook is a part, has extended spring break through March 27. Get updates on their website or Facebook page, or by calling 817-814-2000.
The Benbrook Area Chamber of Commerce has cancelled all meetings and events until further notice. Get updates on their website or Facebook page, or by calling 817-249-4451.
Benbrook Municipal Court
The Court is rescheduling defendants, jurors, and witnesses set for a hearing or trial through and including April 30, 2020. The Court will send written notices when the new date, time, and location have been set. In addition, all outstanding traffic citation due dates are being extended until April 20, 2020; please keep in mind that many citations and payments can be handled on the City website.
Monitoring the Situation
In a previous announcement regarding slowing the spread of COVID-19, Benbrook Mayor Jerry Dittrich explained, “At this time, health professionals advise social distancing. … As we get additional updates on this public health concern, we will assess the possibility of cancelling other future events. As always, our paramount concern is the health and safety of our citizens.”
Benbrook City officials and first-responders are monitoring the situation daily and are in regular communication with local and state public health officials. In the event of a case of COVID-19 within our community, the public safety teams are prepared to respond and minimize the risk of others becoming infected.
Minimizing Your Risk
The CDC has prepared a list of guidelines to help reduce your risk of contracting or spreading the coronavirus and other respiratory illnesses. These include:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you are sick, stay home.
The CDC also has issued new guidelines for large events. The CDC recommends that events including 50 or more people be cancelled or postponed for the next eight weeks. Read the full guidelines. In addition, President Trump has recommended that Americans should not gather in groups of more than 10 people, schooling should be at home, and discretionary travel and social visits should be avoided.
Helpful Resources
Benbrook Police Department non-emergency: 817-249-1610
Benbrook Fire Department and Emergency Services: 249-1727
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) coronavirus section
Tarrant County Public Health COVID-19 website and hotline: 817-248-6299 (hotline staffed only during regular business hours)