Kansas Municipal News
Sumner County reports first case of COVID-19, issues stay-at-home order
Sumner County reports its first case of COVID-19.
The Sumner County Health Department received official confirmation very late Wednesday night.
The patient is a man in his 60’s who resides in the northern part of the county. He is currently hospitalized in Sedgwick County. We have started our disease investigation and locating contacts of the patient….
The county has also issued a Stay-At-Home Order which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
(Read more: KWCH News)
Many turn to small-town markets as grocery stores struggle to keep stocked
Grocery stores have struggled to keep stocked, and now many are turning to small town markets. Several store owners have recently been seeing more out-of-town faces.
While looking through her store, Sarah Orem said, “Yeah, it’s pretty bare, pretty bare. “
Sarah Orem is the manager at Hometown Food Stores in Buhler. She says in the 25 years the store has been in business, she’s never seen anything like this.
“We’re getting emails and text messages and Facebook messages from people asking if we have stuff before they drive all the way over here because they have looked everywhere else and can’t find it,” said Orem.
(Read more: KWCH News)
COVID-19 fears gouge county hospital revenues
Cancelations of hospital and clinic appointments because of COVID-19 fears are hitting rural hospitals hard.
Last week, St. Luke Hospital in Marion saw decreases in several departments. Visits to the therapy department were down 28%, laboratory tests were down 40%, and clinic visits and radiology tests were each down 30%, CEO Jeremy Ensey said.
“This week is looking similar,” he said.
(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)
‘Stay home.’ Small-town Kansas diner tells tourists ‘please stop coming here … for now’
As restaurants across the Kansas City metro ramp up carryout, delivery and specials to survive the stay-at-home order, one small-town Kansas restaurant doesn’t want your business — at least not right now.
Family-owned Keller Feed & Wine Co. in downtown Cottonwood Falls — in the shadow of the Chase County Courthouse, just west of Emporia, Kansas, and about 130 miles from KC — makes the majority of its revenue from tourists. But during the shelter in place, the 50-seat diner wants its out-of-town customers to do just that: “Here is the best way you can help my family owned small town Kansas diner. PLEASE STOP COMING HERE … for now, “ the owners posted on their Facebook page.
(Read more: Kansas City Breaking News, Crime & Sports |)
Local Government’s Still Open—Remotely
As governments call for business closures, school shutdowns and social distancing among residents, local officials across the country have scrambled to transition their own employees to telework.
The move is necessary to protect residents and government employees and to limit the further spread of coronavirus, officials said. But it’s an unprecedented situation for most municipalities, where public servants deliver dozens of essential services to residents, many of them relying on in-person interactions and on-site work.
“They are definitely moving employees as much as they can to telework,” said Rita Reynolds, chief technology officer for the National Association of Counties, who discussed the issue with a group of nearly 360 county-level IT directors and chief information officers.
(Read more: Route Fifty – All Content)
Small biz grants headed to Augusta
“Small businesses are suffering, really everybody is suffering,” said Josh Shaw, City of Augusta Mananger. “This is a program we talked to the state about and we’re hoping people will be able to benefit from it. The goal is to make sure on the other side of this, small businesses are still around.”
To address the economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, the City of Augusta is establishing the Kansas CDG Small Business Relief Program, which has $438,000 available for loans and grants targeted towards small businesses with the highest risk of closing and/or laying off workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kansas Department of Commerce has removed many of the traditional CDBG application requirements to expedite the review process. Businesses are at this time not required to provide a business plan, financials, or collateral to secure these grants and loans.
(Read more: News – Butler County Times Gazette)
No virus cases in Saline County, health officer prepared to execute stay-at-home order if necessary
While Saline County still has no confirmed cases of coronavirus and the, the County Health Officer is prepared to execute a stay-at-home order if necessary.
In a media release at 5 p.m. Thursday, the county asked citizens to be vigilant in staying at home and away from public places to avoid having to put formal restrictions on movement in place in the county.
The release also addressed rumors that testing is not happening in the county, saying, “Testing is being done in Saline County by the medical providers and Salina Regional Health Center. A test has to be authorized by a medical professional and meet the criteria thatthey and KDHE have set forth to test.”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Salina City Commission makes tough decisions in ‘unprecedented times’
Things in the city, country and world look very different now than they did three weeks ago, and the Salina City Commission meeting reflected that.
After technical difficulties halted the planned meeting before business was conducted Monday evening, the commission rescheduled and met Wednesday for more than five hours.
The format for the meeting involved the commissioners all in the same room, but sitting at least 6 feet apart to adhere to guidance on social distancing. The public was also not allowed to be at the meeting physically and had to view it through public access TV, online or call in by telephone conference, which is how the public was able to comment during the meeting.
“As we all know by now, these are unprecedented times,” city manager Mike Schrage said. “The reason for our meeting format today is a result of the governor’s executive order limiting mass gatherings to 10 (people).”
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)
Franklin County under stay-at-home order starting Thursday
The Franklin County Health Officer, Dr. Bud Ransom, has issued a “Stay at Home” order for the residents of Franklin County as the community continues efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
This order includes the closing of all non-essential business in the County effective at 12:01am March 26, 2020, for 30 days. Consideration will be carefully given of whether to prolong these orders beyond that date, based on Public Health and Critical Care information available at that time.
(Read more: News – The Ottawa Herald)
Renters Together MHK pushing for rent holiday during COVID-19 pandemic
Renters Together MHK is pushing for a “rent holiday” as Manhattan and Kansas battle the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is going to be a disaster if we don’t figure this out,” said Brandon Irwin, Renters Together MHK organizer.
Renters Together MHK, which is a local housing advocacy group, is urging congressional leaders, including Sen. Pat Roberts, Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Roger Marshall, to put forth a rent and mortgage freeze for both renters and landlords to assist people who are struggling to pay rent during this time.
(Read more: DerbyInformer.com – news,news/)
Johnson County Commission considers 5X increase in COVID-19 testing as hospital capacity causes concern
With a predicted shortage of intensive care beds fast approaching, the Johnson County Commission took the first steps Thursday toward a dramatic increase in testing for COVID-19. The county’s public health department hopes that increasing the number of tests fivefold will provide enough data to develop an intelligent strategy for containment.
Commissioners asked staff to expedite a report on the cost and a game plan for increasing the testing from the roughly 700 done so far to 3,000 to 5,000 more. Once the report is done, the commission will meet in emergency session to vote on it.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
With TP running low, Newton says to be careful what you flush
Flushable wipes are a lie.
Well, at least in the City of Newton’s eyes.
As time passes and stores continue to remain without toilet paper, concerns grow at the City of Newton office about people’s alternative wiping methods.
“We want to get the message out that the only things appropriate the flush down toilet are bodily functions and toilet paper,” Communication Director Erin McDaniel said. “Any product that says quote unquote flushable wipes should not be flushed.”
(Read more: Harvey County Now)
Local grocery stores provide drive up services
Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, local grocery stores said they are hoping to reduce their customers’ stress by providing drive up, or pick up, services.
This allows customers to call in or order online, depending on the store. The associates will gather the groceries and meet you outside to load them into your car at a designated time.
“We have a lot of older citizens or people at risk with different other health illnesses, and if they feel more comfortable not coming into the store being close to other people, then we want to accommodate that,” said Angi Thomas, store manager of Wehner’s Thriftway in Rossville.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Rural hospital prepares for critical Coronavirus cases
The Coronavirus pandemic is leaving rural Kansas Hospitals with many questions like what happens if they reach capacity or what to do if staff members get sick.
“We’ve made the best plans that we can, given the situations,” said Rooks County Health Center Dr. Beth Oller MD.
Like many rural hospitals, the concern in Rooks County is how to be ready if critical Coronavirus cases come their way.
“Certainly never thought that I would possibly be a leader in a hospital system and having to say to staff, I don’t have the equipment that I want you to have,” said Oller.
The need for more ventilators, tests, beds, and protective gear or having more than one respiratory therapist and more staff, all issues the hospital has to navigate.
(Read more: KSN-TV)
Topeka City Council passes local state of emergency
The Topeka City Council voted to establish a state of emergency at a special meeting held Thursday evening.
This allows City Manager Brent Trout to make decisions necessary to continue city operations amidst the constantly-evolving circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The council voted to temporarily suspend governing body rules until May 6. Council members and city officials will work from home until then.
(Read more: KSNT News)
Overland Park Fire Department confirms administrative staffer tested positive for COVID-19
An administrative staff member with the Overland Park Fire Department has tested positive for COVID-19, the department confirmed Thursday.
“The person’s symptoms appeared while not at work and it is believed their exposure was non work related,” read a release from the department.
OPFD is also tracking the condition of two additional employees who are on home quarantine and being monitored for possible infection as a result of contact with the person who tested positive. Like the staff member confirmed to have COVID-19, neither of those individuals is a first responder who would have had contact with the general public on department duty.
(Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)
Lyon County establishes emergency fund for COVID-19, discusses response
Lyon County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic dominated much of the conversation during Thursday’s meeting of the Lyon County Commission.
County Controller Dan Williams approached the commission with a request for extra funding for the emergency operations center as it continues to work through the pandemic. The funds would be used for supplies and other needs as they arise. Setting up a fund for such purposes required approval by the county commission.
“During a situation like this, they might need to move quickly to make some of these purchases,” Lyon County Commissioner Scott Briggs said.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Chase County to implement health order
The Chase County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday afternoon to implement a stay-at-home order from the Chase County Public Health Department.
The order begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning and will remain in effect until April 28, unless amended sooner, superseded or rescinded.
The order mandates a 14-day home quarantine for Chase County residents who have: “traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission,” “traveled to Illinois or New Jersey on or after March 23,” visited specific Colorado counties, traveled on a cruise on or after March 15, traveled internationally on or after March 15, traveled for non-essential reasons to Johnson, Douglas or Wyandotte counties on or after March 25, and/or received notification “that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.”
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Emporia playgrounds closed, but outdoor activities still allowed
Lyon County’s stay-at-home order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, and all county playgrounds have been closed to the public until April 25.
In Emporia, city employees placed caution tape on playground equipment to prevent children from using it during the order.
The closures were made to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 disease, which can survive on surfaces for several days, according to the World Health Organization.
(Read more: Emporia Gazette)
Edgerton City Council works hard to ensure transparency
The City of Edgerton has reduced staff to only people with business in front of the council, and have asked that presenters make their presentations by telephone for the next City Council meeting, scheduled for Thursday, said Kara Banks, director of communications and marketing.
“We are exploring options for a conference line or other online option for the public to view the meeting,” Banks said. “This is a very fluid situation, and we want to abide by CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and state and local health officials’ recommendations, while still adhering to state laws regarding open meetings.”
(Read more: Gardner News)