COVID-19 Resources and Messages

MESSAGES

Saint Peter Chamber of Commerce — The Chamber building is open, but is not a gathering place at this point. E-mail us at edlee@stpeterchamber.com with messages so we can post them on this page. Please telephone us at 507-934-3400 for paths to resources or to offer thoughts. We are here to support you!
March 19: Marie Dranttel, Certified Public Accountant, Thoughts and information about tax filing, sales tax, income taxes, C corps, direct deposit payroll, quarterly payroll, and other thoughts. Scroll down to to the “News Releases” section to see her full post on Facebook.
March 18: Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop at 224 S. Minnesota Ave, is open 10:30am-9pm daily. We offer delivery (no contact delivery upon request), pick up, and take out orders. Our doors are still open if you wish to come in and place a to go order but we are limited to no more than 5 customers at a time. We currently are offering Free Delivery with code (free delivery) when you order online or from our app. Guests may call in their orders at 507-934-2020. We appreciate your patronage and are grateful our customers have chosen us for their meals. Guests may call in their orders at 507-934-2020. www.erbertandgerberts.com
March 18: Patrick’s — Here at Patrick’s we’re trying to make the best of these crazy times by continuing to serve our community while also trying to keep it safe. We’re open for pick-up food orders 11am – 8pm. At this time we have our full menu available along with some perfect to-go meals: Patrick’s Rice Bowl $7.99; Egg melt with kettle chips $6.99. We know the times can be tough. Kids are out of school, grocery stores are being emptied and some people are losing precious work hours. We’re offering a free deli turkey sandwich to anyone that may be struggling during this time (while supplies last). No questions asked, no judgement here. Stay strong, everyone!
March 18: Jake’s Pizza Delivery and Pickup — To minimize contact between drivers and customers we are eliminating the need for credit card signatures. We encourage customers who wish to tip, to do so when placing their orders. Staff will use hand sanitizer between every delivery. Drive-up orders. Customers can place pickup orders and staff will bring the orders to the car. Staff will wear gloves when bringing order to customers car. Signatures are not needed for these orders.
Saint Peter Public Library is offering curbside pickup beginning March 19. Watch for updates HERE.
March 18: Cooks & Company is open, helping provide items you may need while staying home and cooking with your family. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Sanitizing is happening very often.
March 18: Generations Boutique — GB is ONLINE ONLY (for now). Free Shipping on All Orders! For the safety of our community and our employees, we have decided to temporarily close our store front until further notice. (We will re-evaluate weekly) During this time I will be behind the scenes sending out online orders, replying to all your messages, & I will be doing LIVE videos during the week! We just put a ton of new arrivals online!
March 18: Arrow Ace Hardware — Arrow Ace Hardware is OPEN. They’re recognized as a “small store” that is essential, because when, for instance, a household’s plumbing breaks, parts are needed to fix it. Ace is operating during regular business hours.
March 17: HomeTown Bank — To do our part to support a healthy community during the coronavirus pandemic, effective Wednesday, March 18th, all HomeTown Bank branch locations will be restricting access to our bank lobbies with meetings by appointment only. All drive-thrus at our locations will remain open for normal drive-thru hours. Our online and mobile banking services are always available 24/7 for account access, transfers, e-statements, bill pay, and mobile deposit.
Contents will be closed until feeling safe to reopen. BUT when it happens, look for the “new and improved” store! There will be a lot going on while closed.
March 17 — Extra Innings will remain open for Carry Out (per MN State guidelines), Curbside To Go and Delivery options. Guests can call (507)934-4326 or order online at www.extrainningspaninos.com. Use coupon code ‘TOGO10’ and save 10% Off online orders! We will be requesting orders be paid with credit card in advance to ease operations and hopefully make for safer transactions for everyone. If utilizing our Curbside To Go please be sure to call upon arrival so we know to bring you your food. We appreciate everyone’s support and patience in this trying time.
WE’RE OPEN for River Rock To Go! — You can still grab your favorite coffee or food to go, you can also call and place your order ahead of arrival and we will do our absolute best to have it ready and waiting for you/ let you know when it will be available for pickup! Saint Peter 6am-6p, 507-931-1540; Mankato 7am-5pm. 507-720-0223
March 17: Here is Diamond Dust Bakery’s COVID-19 plan: As a business that deals with food and beverages, Diamond Dust Bakery will be adhering to the current event to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by only serving our customers in a carry out, curbside, or delivery method. The Delivery method will require a minimum purchase amount and a delivery fee. For the ease of processing phone in orders, we ask that you choose to use the curbside method as it provides the least amount of contact verses carry out. Just call in your order along with a favored pick up time, your debit or credit card information and pick up vehicle description. Call us again when you are in the parking lot and we will bring out your order. We greatly value each and every customer and hope that as a small business we will be able to overcome the financial impact that this crisis may bring. Please remember us if you are in need of good homestyle lunches, desserts, and treats. We will continue to cater lunches for your business or party. And as usual, we welcome special orders for cakes, cupcakes, cookies and any other of your favorite Diamond Dust specialties. 507-934-9898. Thanks so much! Cheri, Diamond Dust Bakery
SpartanNash has no plans to close any of our Family Fresh Market stores, and we remain committed to serving you during this time. To continue to best serve our store guests, we have suspended service at self-serve areas in all stores, including salad bars, soup bars and donut cases. Instead, you can pick up these items in prepackaged containers, made fresh every day by Family Fresh Market associates with the highest cleanliness and food safety standards. We’ve also closed our café areas and stopped all sampling for the time being. SpartanNash and our family of retail stores remain committed to well-being and safety of our family of associates, customers and communities, and we thank you for your continued trust and patience.
March 17, 12:40 p.m. — Swedish Kontur has decided to temporarily close for two weeks.
From the Saint Peter Ambassadors, the organization organizing the Saint Patrick’s event — 3/16 UPDATE: The raffle drawing will be held at 4:30pm on March 17th in the Red Men Club parking lot. Ambassadors will be selling tickets until then to those interested in purchasing one.
St Peter Dairy Queen Location as well as our Mankato (Adams St) Location are open with regular hours at this time. Entry is limited to 5 people at a time to pick-up orders or grab a cake only. Drive-thru will remain open as well. We ask that you be patient as we will be working hard to get the orders out as fast as we can. We thank you for your continued patronage through this tough time for everyone!
March 17: St. Peter Family Dental has transitioned to emergency patients only until March 30. Call 507-931-1230 if you are experiencing a dental emergency.
March 17: Third Street Tavern — Don’t let social distancing keep you from enjoying the foods you love! We’re now offering curbside pick-up, carry-out, and delivery (free with orders of $15 or more) at 3rd Street Tavern! Call now to order your 3rd Street favorites 507.934.3314.
Mankato Clinic has established a COVID-19 Hotline. Mankato Clinic representatives say people who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms and are concerned they may have been infected should call 507-389-8548. Mankato Clinic says they’re operating a drive-thru method for coronavirus testing but patients must call the hotline first. (Thank you to KTOE Radio 1420 for this wording.)
Extra Innings restaurant is offering Curbside To Go. Folks can order online at
https://www.extrainningspaninos.com/order-online-st-peter/ or 507-934-4326. Order online and save 10% with coupon code ‘TOGO10’ at checkout. They will try to have parking spaces available at the rear entrance or find another parking spot.
March 16: Curbside pickup is available at River Nutrition, 622 Sunrise Drive — 1. Call/Text 612 816 9960; 2. Place your Order; 3. Briefly describe your vehicle; 4. We will deliver your Shake/Tea right to your car!
Saint Peter Chamber events postponed: Business Before Hours on March 17, Town Square Meeting on March 19, and Annual Social on April 3.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak,
Sweet Alice’s physical location is being closed from March 16 through the 30th of March. She is still taking phone and online orders and delivering to private homes and most businesses. She has stopped all deliveries to the hospital and assisted living homes through March 30th, as she wants to help protect the most vulnerable members of our community. In addition, the entire shop will be shut down March 26th through the 30th, for personal reasons.
March 18 — Saint Peter Food Co-op is open. See their information by clicking HERE.
David Detlefsen – State Farm Agent – To help ensure everyone’s safety during the outbreak of COVID-19, we ask that you let us serve you remotely via phone or email. You can also do many things from our mobile app or statefarm.com, including managing your policies and accounts, paying your bill, filing/tracking a claim, and more. Our office is taking caution and will not be meeting customers in person until further notice. Thank you for helping us keep the community safe and healthy!
March 16: Nutter Clothing Company is open regular business hours, as of this writing on March 16.
Mankato Clinic offers more messages here.
March 16: Family Fresh Market – Try Fast Lane Services where you order groceries and they deliver them to you in your vehicle parked there – visit https://www.shopthefastlane.com/
From Benedictine Living Community of St. Peter – including Benedictine Court & Heritage Meadows – Benedictine is following all national and state CDC guidelines in order to best protect our residents. We are not allowing visitors unless it is an emergency situation. The doors are locked and all staff and visitors that enter will have their temperature taken and asked a series of questions. Please be kind and help keep our residents safe and healthy! Facetime your families! Virtual visits are a wonderful alternative! For up-to-date information we have set up a local hotline: 507-933-5277.
Dr. Mary Snyder — The Minnesota Dental Association in conjunction with the Minnesota Board of Dentistry strongly recommends that dentists practicing in Minnesota voluntarily suspend nonessential or non-urgent dental care for the next 14 days. That being said, Dr. Mary Snyder’s office will see emergency appointments and essentially necessary procedures. Call the Chamber at 934-3400 for emergency contact information.
From Greater Mankato Growth — Here is a link to the Business Resources blog post pertaining to COVID-19
And here is more GMG information updated as information becomes available: https://greatermankato.com/covid-19-info-resources.
March 16: Patrick’s On Third (posted Monday, March 16 hours before governor’s news conference. Watch for updates.) — Patrick’s is offering 10% off all carry out orders and a gift Card Special, Purchase a $50 gift card, get a bonus $10 gift certificate.

NEWS RELEASES

March 19: Marie Dranttel, Certified Public Accountant: I’m not a fan of mass emailing – but this is the best I can do at the moment — which is how we are attempting to function here at the office. All of us have challenges – please exercise patience …

This is what I know regarding due dates/filing status — etc ..

1. at this point there are no changes to payroll taxes – I’ve heard rumors but have not seen any authoritative changes —

2. sales tax – Minnesota has delayed payment of sales taxes due 3/20 – to 4/20 …

3. income taxes – entities – s corporations/partnerships – were due 3/15 – if this applies to you – it was extended and / or completed

4. income taxes – individual – they are still due April 15th – payment can be delayed up to 90 days w/out requesting an extension

5. C corporations are due April 15

6. Direct deposit payroll – we will keep you on your same schedules – please get info to us as soon as possible (if not sooner) ….

7. Quarterly payroll reports – 3/31/20 is the end of the 1st Quarter – we will need your March payroll data as soon as you are done with payroll for the month.

Do not ask me when the government is sending you your $1,000 — 10 phone calls on that yesterday —- babbling by the President does not make it official.

and yes, you will still get your social security payment ( the other popular question)

I can state with certainty – we will not be getting all of our individual returns completed by April 15th … I simply cannot input, print, copy and prep your returns with the limited staffing / social distancing issues …

sanitizing work spaces frequently

If we need to extend your personal returns we well be in contact with you shortly … I’m going to attempt to prioritize returns today ….

We’re doing the best we can with the resources we have — as are all of you …..

thanks for putting up with our chaos …..

If Governor Walz issues an “order in place” declaration – which may very well happen – we will have to adjust – I will keep you in the loop.

Stay Smart and Stay Safe 😊

Marie
March 18 — Saint Peter Public Library Services and COVID-19

Curbside Pickup starting Thursday, March 19

• Patron must have current library card in good standing

• No periodicals, oversize or special materials.

• Limited to 5 items, 3 DVDs maximum per card.

• Patron must place holds in the library catalog, or request materials by email to lib@saintpetermn.gov.

• Items will be available for curbside pickup on Monday – Friday from 9 – 5 a.m. starting March 19. Pickup is at the windowsill near the afterhours book drop. Please call 507-934-7420 to let staff know you are present for pickup.

• Staff will work to complete orders as requested and will use discretion to fulfill request with alternate titles.

• Books must be returned to book drop by the due date or renewed.

• This service is a new attempt to assist patrons. Please be flexible.

• This service may be cancelled or modified at any time.
Dear Nicollet County Historical Society friends, history has taught us to be wary of barriers erected out of fear. In the coming days and weeks, we must all use an abundance of caution in our choices, including those of us at the Nicollet County Historical Society. That is why for the safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors, the Treaty Site History Center is closed March 17, 2020, through at least April 4, 2020. All public events in April are canceled. While we’re temporarily closed and monitoring the situation, staff will still be working (unless they’re sick or quarantining), so we’ll be checking emails and phone messages. Our Research Coordinator will be answering research requests via email and phone. While history is fun and important, it is available from sources other than our museum. By closing to the public, we hope to do our part to slow the spread of the disease. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we want everyone to stay healthy. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Jessica Becker, Executive Director, Nicollet County Historical Society
Organizers of the Easter Egg Hunt — Good Samaritan Home Care — have postponed the event, and they will name it Spring Fling for when it happens. Watch for updates.
Mediacom Announces Company Initiatives to Combat Spread of Coronavirus — MEDIACOM PARK, NY – March 16, 2020 — Mediacom Communications announced today a series of company initiatives directed at helping American families address work, education and health care challenges created by the Coronavirus pandemic. Specific initiatives include:

• Increasing the speed of the Mediacom Connect2Compete low-cost internet program to 25 megabits per second (Mbps) down by 3 Mbps up (currently 10 Mbps down by 1 Mbps up). Qualifying families who subscribe before May 15, 2020, will receive 60 days of complimentary Mediacom Connect2Compete service. • Extending the pricing of Mediacom’s Access Internet 60 broadband service to new customers at $19.99 per month for the next 12 months (currently retails for $29.99 per month). • Pausing monthly data allowances across all Mediacom broadband service tiers through May 15, 2020; • Providing complementary access to all Mediacom Xtream Wi-Fi Hotspots for 60 days.
SCHOOL AGE CARE UPDATE: School Age Care (SAC) will be available to students in grades K-6 who have parents that work in healthcare, emergency medical services, long-term and post-acute care; law enforcement personnel; personnel providing correctional services; public health employees; firefighters or other first responders during the time that Governor Walz has ordered a statewide closure of schools. The district sent out a survey this morning to identify which students qualify for care. Contact Community & Family Education at (507) 934-3048 x. 2 for more information.
South Central College Center for Business & Industry — CBI’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) — We are in unprecedented times with the ongoing spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the incredible speed at which things are changing. The Center for Business & Industry (CBI) at South Central College (SCC) is closely monitoring COVID-19 resources and we want to assure you that the wellbeing of our clients, instructors, and staff is our top priority and will always be at the heart of every decision we make. Along with the Minnesota State System and South Central College, our team is following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health Organization to take the precautions necessary to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment. Although SCC’s academic classes are postponed until March 30, all education and trainings delivered through CBI are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis and participants will be notified of cancellations as soon as they are determined. For scheduled education and trainings, we will be implementing social distancing (6 feet distance between participants), frequent hand sanitizing for all participants, and other recommended safety and cleanliness practices. In addition, we are exploring the possibility of alternative delivery methods for future trainings. We currently offer several virtual training options through our Live Online program (face-to-face training via video conferencing) and self-paced online courses that may be of interest during this time. If you have any symptoms of respiratory illness or if you have been in contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms, we request that you do not attend upcoming trainings or educational offerings. All registered participants may request a full refund or transfer to a future class date, if desired. Please call 507-389-7203 and we will be happy to assist you. We will continue to monitor the rapidly-changing situation and notify you of changes or updates. We appreciate your business and look forward to continuing to serve you. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at 507-389-7203 or cbi@southcentral.edu.
At Patrick’s On Third, we take the health of our staff and guests very serious. We will continue to provide the best experience in a healthy, clean, and safe environment. In addition to following health code requirements, we are also heightening our awareness and standards for our own sanitation practices. Things we are doing to keep everyone safe; • We are educating our employees on safe practices outlined by the CDC. • Increasing our frequency of cleaning practices, such washing hands as well as sanitizing doors, tables, bars, menus and other common contact items. • We are discouraging contact between individuals in our restaurant, such as hand shakes. • We closely monitoring information from the CDC, WHO & as well as state and local health officials. • We are offering carry out specials to minimize contact for guests practicing social distancing. What Guest can do to help • Wash your hands often • Avoid physical contact with people • Avoid contact with people who are sick • Stay home when you are sick. We understand the very valid concerns these challenging circumstances render, but please note that Patrick’s On Third’s dedication to our community and staff’s health is our absolute priority. We are confident in our safety and will continue to operate as usual.
March 17: CenterPoint Energy – We are committed to your health and safety as we deliver safe, reliable natural gas and Home Service Plus® service

Helping ensure uninterrupted natural gas service, heating and cooling equipment installation, and appliance maintenance and repair. We care about you, our communities and our employees. In response to the Coronavirus, we’ve activated our Pandemic Preparedness Plan, and we’re working closely with regulatory, government and emergency management organizations across our service areas to help ensure uninterrupted natural gas service delivery as well as heating and cooling equipment installation and appliance maintenance and repair service for our Home Service Plus® (HSP) customers. We have payment assistance and plans to meet your needs: We are committed to supporting you during this uncertain time. Effective immediately, we’re temporarily suspending disconnections of natural gas service for nonpayment. If you need payment assistance, we have plans to meet your needs. How we are protecting you: • If we can’t resolve service issues without entering the home or building, we will maintain a friendly, safe social distance • Our techs have extra personal hygiene and safety equipment • We are frequently cleaning and disinfecting our equipment. What you can do to help us serve you: • For our mutual protection, we will explain the work to be done and ask you some questions; let us know if anyone at home is sick • Let us know if you are comfortable with our process or want to reschedule • Use our self-service options to manage your account online, including paying your bill, making a payment arrangement or signing up for service alerts. For our Home Service Plus® customers: • We continue to deliver equipment installation and appliance repair and maintenance services as conditions allow • Our HSP technicians are applying the same protective measures described above and appreciate your help in serving you • If we can’t access your home to repair your heating system, we will offer you other solutions to help keep you warm. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/Covid19
The funeral for Edward H. Schaus has been postponed. Our hearts go out to wife Jane, a Chamber member with Kangen Water and crafts creations, including mittens that have been won by many attendees of Business After Hours events.
In the wake of the governor’s news conference 5 p.m. March 16, you might be eligible for unemployment insurance. Go to https://www.uimn.org/
March 17: From Explore Minnesota — The Governor has given the executive order the closure of Minnesota restaurants and bars to dine-in customers as well as other places of public accommodation and amusement by March 17 at 5:00 p.m. until March 27 at 5:00 p.m.

The major items at this time include:

a. A rule closing:

i. Restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, and other places offering food or beverage for on-premises consumption. This excludes institutional and in-house food cafeterias for businesses, hospitals, and long-term care facilities;

ii. Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, clubs, and other places that offer alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption;

iii. Hookah bars, cigar bars, and vaping lounges offering their products for on-premises consumption;

iv. Theaters, cinemas, museums, and indoor and outdoor performance venues;

v. Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoors sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and spas;

vi. Places of public amusement, including amusement parks, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks, trampoline parks, and other similar recreational or entertainment facilities;

vii. facilities of country clubs, golf clubs, boating or yacht clubs, sports or athletic clubs, and dining clubs.

We realize this will have a large impact on many of you, your businesses, your community, and our tourism industry as a whole. We are conscious this entire situation and at Explore Minnesota we are offering notifications and updates so that you can thoughtfully prepare, we will also share updates as we receive them in the coming days and weeks.
Important DEED update at 10:50 a.m. March 17: St. Paul – In order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Governor Walz announced the temporary closure of Minnesota restaurants and bars to dine-in customers as well as the closure of other places of public accommodation and amusement. This order is effective March 17th at 5:00 p.m. until March 27 at 5:00 p.m. The closures will be evaluated at the end of this 10-day period.

The Governor also issued an executive order to help ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available. Workers who are unemployed or who have hours reduced due to the COVID-19 outbreak are asked to apply for unemployment benefits online at uimn.org. The website can accept applications Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please apply on the website to ensure the most efficient processing of applications during this unprecedented situation.

Employers can find employer-focused COVID-19 related information that is updated regularly on the Information for Employers page.

Find out more about the actions taken on the Governor’s website.

For the most up to date information on what DEED is doing during the COVID-19 outbreak refer to COVID-19 webpage on the DEED website.

Upon request, this information can be made available in alternate formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.
Thank you Kelly McDonough for shepherding your idea of a volunteers network into a reality being elevated by Mankato Area United Way! If you can volunteer to run errands for the elderly or serve in other ways, call 507-345-4551. If you could benefit from volunteers, call the same number (507-345-4551.
The St. Peter Women Celebrating Women event scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 has been cancelled.

March 17: Saint Peter Library and Community Center are closed.