Five Plano city employees out with COVID-19, two hospitalized

PLANO, TX – The Plano City Council received staff reports that five city employees were out with COVID-19, with two hospitalized, during a meeting on Monday night, Jan. 11.

In a report to city council, City Engineer Nate Bullard reported four public works employees had contracted the virus, with two of them hospitalized. Bullard stated he was observing quarantine through most of the month.

“We were down two streets guys and two trucks – so we were down to just four trucks and four streets guys battling the last snow storm,” Bullard told city officials. “Just keep us all of us in your thoughts and prayers and we’ll try to push along as far as we can.”

Earlier in the meeting, Police Chief Steven Eaves reported one officer out sick with COVID-19.

In addition, alderman unanimously approved an agreement with the Kendall County Health Department to offer city resources to assist in the county’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The health department requested one city employee to help with clerical work one day a week for the vaccination campaign.

“They’re asking for our help,” Mayor Bob Hausler said. “I’ve already said that I think everyone would be on board with helping in any way that we can to get this vaccine into our residents’ arm and the folks in Kendall County.”

Alderman Mike Rennels, who is running for mayor against Hausler, offered to volunteer unpaid for the health department.

In other news, the Plano City Council voted unanimously to retain Wessels & Sherman law firm as counsel for the city’s labor negotiations. At a committee of the whole following city council, alderman also discussed designating Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery, as an official city holiday.

Alderman opposed replacing President’s Day or Veterans Day with Juneteenth as a day off for city employees. Yet officials supported offering city employees Juneteenth as a floating holiday they can opt into. Mayor Hausler referred the item back to committee for further discussion.