Updated 11:15 a.m. Friday, March 20
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.
On Monday, March 16, 2020, Benbrook Mayor Jerry Dittrich issued an Order prohibiting community gatherings of 250 persons or more anywhere in the city of Benbrook, Texas. Based on recent announcements from the federal, state, and county governments, that Order has been amended.
Effective 4 p.m., March 17, 2020, community gatherings of ten (10) or more people are strongly discouraged anywhere in the City of Benbrook.
The City of Benbrook also strongly urges all individuals to cancel, reschedule, avoid or not attend any gatherings in the City that will have, or will likely have, 10 or more people, also effective 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Read the full Amended 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.
City Parks are open. Pavilion reservations are not being accepted at this time. The City encourages anyone visiting the parks to follow the social distancing guidelines recommended by the President.
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, is closed. 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. They have many online services available on their website and Facebook page; for more information, call 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, will be closed through April 3. 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.
4 PAWS will not be doing an adoption event the weekend of March 21-22. If you would like to visit one of the dogs, please call Caroline at 817-372-9044. Get updates on their Facebook page.
The Benbrook Youth Baseball Softball Association has postponed the start of their season until April 11. Teams may hold practice at their own discretion, but BYBSA will not supply lights. Get updates on their website or Facebook page.
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 White House has prepared a set of COVID-19 guidelines titled, 15 Days to Slow the Spread. The guidelines include avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people.
Resources for more information about the coronavirus
Subscribe to City News Flashes and other Alerts
See a list of local cancellations and closures
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Next Door
Texas Health and Human Services; the department can also be reached by dialing 211.
Tarrant County Public Health; the County has set up a coronavirus hotline, 817-248-6299 (staffed only during regular business hours)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Benbrook Police Department non-emergency: 817-249-1610
Benbrook Fire Department and Emergency Services: 249-1727
Benbrook City Hall: 817-249-3000 (staffed only during regular business hours)
In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has created a website providing guidance and resources in light of the pandemic. For states or territories seeking an economic injury declaration, the SBA has issued revised criteria which are designed to expand access to loans and speed the qualification process.