As new COVID-19 cases spike in Johnson County and across the state of Kansas, the cities of Prairie Village, Merriam, Westwood and Roeland Park have publicly posted their plans to stay in Phase 3 of Gov. Laura Kelly’s reopening plan. Phase 3, though only a recommendation framework, limits gathering sizes to 45 and permits the reopening of playgrounds provided physical distancing signs are posted. Prairie Village, Merriam, Westwood and Roeland Park’s individual announcements come on the heels of Gov. Kelly’s recommendation to halt progression in the reopening process. The recommendation does not have the teeth of enforcement, as Gov. Kelly relinquished her authority to formally require this request. The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners has voted to follow the voluntary recommendations from Kelly’s administration. Now, Phase 3 in Kansas will end no sooner than July 6.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

The Roeland Park City Council last month agreed to consider adopting an ad hoc committee to work with Lexipol, a public safety policy service, to conduct a police policy review. City staff normally conducts periodic reviews of Roeland Park Police Department’s operating procedures, which have historically been developed and maintained in house. Although there is an option for a Lexipol annual review, an ad hoc committee would work with Lexipol’s expert staff for a one-time fee of $11,000.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners will convene for a special meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order requiring people across the state to wear a face mask in public places starting Friday. Johnson County officials had been facing growing pressure from some in the community to issue a local face mask mandate following orders from neighboring Wyandotte and Jackson Counties. A petition started over the weekend asking the Johnson County Commission to issue its own face mask order is now up to nearly 3,700 signatures. As of Monday, however, the county’s health officials were saying they would rely on a “shared sense of responsibility” and encourage people to adhere to voluntary face mask recommendations.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)