As Michigan’s state lawmakers met Tuesday in Lansing — in person, at the behest of Republican House and Senate leaders, and over the objections of many Democrats — city councils and township boards across Michigan are avoiding the health risk of in-person meetings by turning to the internet.

On Monday night, Lincoln Park Mayor Thomas Karnes sat alone in the city's council chamber while other members spoke, moved motions and voted via the networking program Zoom. It was Lincoln Park's first try at holding a virtual council meeting and those involved said it went well.

The networking software let city officials comply with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order dictating limits on “physical presence” and "physical place," and aimed at discouraging Michiganders from assembling in groups.

And everyone felt "this was safer, not only for the public but also for all our employees,” Lincoln Park City Clerk Kerry Kehrer said.

More:Second Michigan lawmaker diagnosed with COVID-19 as Legislature prepares to vote Tuesday

Lincoln Park was among the first, but numerous other cities and townships have said on their websites that they will hold virtual council or board meetings this month. St. Clair Shores was scheduled Monday to have its council meeting via "tele-conference,' while both Troy City Council and Royal Oak City Commission plan to have their first virtual meetings next week.

In contrast, state lawmakers were told they must enter the House and Senate chambers Tuesday if they wished to vote, although not until they stopped at the entry to have their temperatures taken — even though a normal temperature can’t guarantee that someone isn’t a carrier of the novel coronavirus, according to the federal government’s health experts and many other medical sources.

In Lincoln Park, Clerk Kehrer said that when the council members were voting Monday night, she had to listen carefully as she called out the roll of their names.

“People sound a little different over Zoom than they do in person. And I do prefer the in-person approach when you get the public directly involved. But, in a pinch, this worked,” Kehrer said.

Residents were invited to watch at home, either on Zoom or Facebook Live. While the mayor held forth by himself in the council chamber, Kehrer said she sat in her office, the city manager sat in his office, and the city attorney perched in a small room directly behind where the mayor sat.

It was a short meeting but, nevertheless, elected officials passed key resolutions involving employee insurance and other benefits as well purchase orders for as sewer repairs. The council bought two police cars from the Jorgensen Ford dealership in Detroit. Members also approved a permit for the Memorial Day parade — although whether that will be held or canceled remains to be seen, officials said. And the mayor, in his remarks to the audience, reminded residents how they can pay bills and transact other city business online.

Lincoln Park has been “way ahead of the curve” in reducing the risks of disease transmission at city facilities, City Attorney Ed Zelenak said.

“Our mayor closed City Hall well before the state’s announcement” to close public buildings to all but essential business, Zelenak said.

Yet, the Legislature reconvened Tuesday, after Republican leaders issued orders for any member who feels ill or displays symptoms to stay away. That advice could still leave members at risk if they gathered to vote. According to the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the symptoms of COVID-19 — including an elevated body temperature — “may appear 2-14 days after exposure.”

One member of the Michigan House of Representatives has died of what family members said they suspect was COVID-19. State Rep. Isaac Robinson, a Democrat who represented Hamtramck and a portion of Detroit, died March 29 at Receiving Hospital in Detroit after experiencing several days of breathing difficulty, Robinson’s mother told the Free Press.

Contact Bill Laitner: blaitner@freepress.com