Update: 11:30 a.m. March 24
Costco employees at the Cedar Park location will be seeing a bigger paycheck.
In a March 23 ermail to all Costco employees, CEO Craig Jelinek announced that all employees nationwide will receive a temporary $2 per hour pay increase due to coronavirus concerns.
The pay bump will apply to hours worked between March 2 and April 5, the email said.
Target also recently said its employees would get a temporary $2-per-hour pay increase through May 2.
Update: 10:25 a.m., March 24
Cedar Park Mayor Corbin Van Arsdale issued an order March 23 to close all playground equipment, pools, splash pads, pavilions, exercise equipment and water drinking fountains within Cedar Park that are public, semi-public and homeowner-association owned and operated, according to the city order.
The order went into effect on March 24 at 7 a.m.
As of 10:25 a.m. March 24, there are no additional park closures or changes in Leander. Access to athletic fields at Benbrook Ranch Park and Robin Bledsoe Park remain closed.
Update: 2:50 p.m. March 23
Cedar Park has four confirmed cases of coronavirus while Leander has one, according to a March 23 Williamson County press release.
Williamson County announced March 23 that five additional people have tested positive for the coronavirus.
In addition, the county listed what cities each of the total 14 confirmed cases are located in.
The new individuals that tested positive are:
- A female in her 20s with unknown exposure source
- A female in her 20s with unknown exposure source
- A female in her 30s with unknown exposure source
- A female in her 30s with international travel history to an affected country
- A female in her 40s with unknown exposure source
- Austin – 2
- Cedar Park – 4
- Georgetown – 4
- Leander – 1
- Round Rock – 3
There are five Domino's in the Cedar Park-Leander area, and those restaurants are hiring, according to a company press release.
Domino's just announced it is hiring 350 new employees in its more than 64 stores across the Austin area. The pizza delivery and carry-out chain is looking for drivers, customer service representatives and managers.
To learn more to apply for a position, visit jobs.dominos.com.
Update: 12:09 p.m., March 23
Starting March 23, yard waste collection will be suspended in Leander, according to a public statement from Al Clawson Disposal, Inc., which collects solid waste for the city. This suspension will last at least four weeks, and yard waste includes tree branches, stick bundles and bagged leaves or grass.
Solid waste must be bagged and inside the cart, which allows crews to finish work earlier and limits crew members' exposure to waste, according to the statement. Residents are encouraged to sanitize cart handles and wash hands after each time the cart is moved.
From March 23 through May 1, Cedar Park residents' tree and shrub trimming waste must be bundled and cannot be longer than 4 feet, more than 4 inches in diameter or weigh more than 50 pounds, according to an update on the city website. Leaves and grass clippings must be in paper bags, and wet bags will not be picked up, according to the update. Trimmings will not be included during your seven bulk items limit during this period.
Update: 4:50 p.m., March 22
Cedar Park City Council will hold an emergency, online meeting at 5 p.m. March 22, the city announced at 4 p.m.
The agenda says council will considering extending the mayor's declaration of a local state of disaster beyond a week. Mayor Corbin Van Arsdale made the original declaration March 17.
Council will also discuss the impact of the coronavirus on the city, according to the press release.
The meeting may be viewed online by following this link and clicking on "Emergency City Council."
Update: 2:30 p.m., March 17
Cedar Park Mayor Corbin Van Arsdale declared a local state of disaster on March 17, which gives the city immediate tools, efficiencies and resources, according to the city.
"I want us to have all the tools, efficiencies, and reimbursements we can for Cedar Park in fighting COVID-19," said Van Arsdale in his social media announcement.
Update: 1:37 p.m., March 17
Below is a list of closures or changes for Cedar Park, Leander and Williamson County residents.
Cedar Park
All parks and recreation programs have been canceled through March 29, according to the city. Nonessential community programs, fire and police community programs and Cedar Park Library programs are canceled through the end of March. The city is providing updates on its Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.
The March 25 City Council chat has changed to a remote event.
The Treasure of the Hills Senior Center will be closed through March.
The Austin Spurs, a G League affiliate of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, has had the remainder of their season suspended by the league. The Austin Spurs play their home games at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
The Texas Stars, an American Hockey League affiliate of the Texas Stars, has had the remainder of their season suspended by the league. The Texas Stars play their home games at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Leander
- The MOMS Club of Leander is canceling its April 10 Easter egg hunt.
- The city has closed athletic field access at Benbrook Ranch Park and Robin Bledsoe Park. Open park spaces remain open, and no other events are affected as of 10:30 a.m. March 16. The city is providing updates on its website.
- All Leander Active Adults programs and activities are canceled until further notice.
- Localmotive: a Food Trip Around Leander, a seven-restaurant tour around the city sponsored by the chamber, has been postponed to June 4.
- The return to school from spring break has been extended two weeks to April 6. Starting Monday, meals will be available to students.
- LISD is providing free, drive-thru breakfast and lunch for any student at four schools: Bagdad Elementary, Reed Elementary, River Place Elementary and Running Brushy Middle. Students will also be offered access to distance learning tools and resources.
- All Williamson County tax office lobbies at all four locations are closed, effective March 17. Employees will take phone calls and respond to emails. Other methods for making tax payments are available online by clicking here. The governor has also waived some vehicle regulations. The full list is available here.
- All Williamson County Emergency Management Services public education classes, public outreach events and civilian ambulance rides are canceled through March 27, according to its Facebook page.
- All pavilion rental reservations with a group size of 50 or more at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park, Champion Park and Berry Springs and Park Reserve have been canceled, according to a March 16 release.
- All softball, soccer and cricket league practices and games at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park have been canceled, according to the release.
- The county has also canceled the following events:
- Learn How to Fish
- Vern’s No Frills 5K on March 21
- Williamson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 Summer Youth Resource Fair on April 14
- All events at the Williamson County Expo Center through April 12. Future events will be reevaluated and updated.
- Williamson County Sheriff’s Office is following state orders and has suspended jail visitation
Leander Mayor Troy Hill signed a disaster declaration March 17 as a response to the coronavirus disease, according to a city press release.
The declaration will expire after seven days without the approval of City Council, which will meet on March 19. The City Council can extend the declaration for up to 30 days, according to the release.
On the meeting’s agenda, City Council will discuss personnel and facilities policy and procedure changes in response to the coronavirus. City Manager Rick Beverlin will discuss proactive measures from city staff, according to the agenda. City Council will also discuss an administrative leave policy resolution.
As a result, the city has canceled multiple events and closed several areas. They include:
- All special events and regular programs hosted by the Leander Parks and Recreation Department and Leander Public Library through May 1;
- All athletic fields at Benbrook Ranch Park and Robin Bledsoe Park through May 1;
- Residential Spring Cleanup on March 28;
- All Municipal Court hearings in April; and
- All city board and commission meetings in April, except for meetings held by the Leander Planning and Zoning Commission.
All 24-Hour Fitness clubs have closed as of 12:01 a.m. March 17, according to an early morning email to all members by CEO Tony Ueber.
All Gold Gym locations in Texas closed at 8 p.m. March 16.
Deep discounts are being offered to 24-Hour members for online training and dining services, according to the email.
