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NILES — The city of Niles announced that it will adhere to Executive Order No. 2020-21 issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to suspend activities for the next three weeks that are not necessary to sustain or protect life in an effort to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Such prohibitions include that all individuals are ordered to stay at home or at their place of residence, and all public or private gatherings of any number of people occurring among persons not part of a single household are prohibited.
Gov. Whitmer’s executive order allows for exceptions for workers that are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. Critical infrastructures include electric, wastewater and water systems. “Critical infrastructure workers” are those who maintain the city’s water, electric, sewer and other systems. It also includes those systems needed to conduct minimum basic operations to maintain inventory, equipment, process transactions such as payroll or facilitate the ability of others to work remotely. Such necessary government services also include public transportation including Dial-A-Ride services, law enforcement, public safety, first responders, utilities and public works personnel as required.
The governor’s order goes into effect at midnight on Monday.
The City of Niles also announced that effective immediately, the City of Niles will provide drive-thru customer services for payment of utility bills, utility services, taxes, etc. Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. only. On Fridays, the drive-thru window will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. only. The city’s after-hours drop box is available for utility payments, and the city’s online payment system is always available.
Limiting the staff’s exposure will assist the City of Niles to fulfill its commitment to provide uninterrupted essential services to our residents and business owners during this unprecedented time,  said city officials.
“We encourage all our citizens to heed Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. tonight. This order broadly requires all Michigan citizens to remain at home except for critical infrastructure workers and for individuals to obtain food and medication,” said Richard Huff, city administrator.