Action by Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday evening will see residents continue to mask up through the start of next year.
Commissioners unanimously approved extending the city’s mask ordinance until Jan. 26. The previous ordinance was scheduled to expire on Dec. 22.
During the meeting Commissioner Rob Gilligan stated there are those individuals who feel if they have already had the virus they no longer need to wear a mask. Lyon County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern, who was in attendance Wednesday, says this is not true.
Millbern says the recommendation is that even if you have recovered from the virus or had a vaccination you still need to wear a mask.
Further questions were posed as to when COVID statistics may allow the ordinance to be rescinded along with other mitigation strategies. Millbern stated it is difficult to create an exact timeline for that situation, however, current indications are that it could be summertime before that would occur.
Emporia Mayor Danny Giefer says that news did not come as a shock to the commission.
The ordinance requires people to wear face masks or face coverings in certain circumstances, including indoor and outdoor public places where social distancing can’t be maintained and any time residents are receiving healthcare services.
In other business, commissioners approved an amendment to the 2020 budget adding additional budget authority to four city funds — bond and interest, water, wastewater and the library fund. The amendment will increase the bond and interest fund authority to just over $6.8 million, library to $972,823, water to just over $8.5 million and wastewater to just over $7 million.
Earlier this year the city authorized the use of debt to cover expenses related to the bond and interest, water and wastewater funds. Per the city’s auditing firm those funds needed to be recognized for audit purposes.
The increased budget authority reflected that recognition.
The library fund increase reflected higher than anticipated revenues collected by the city over the past year. Those funds will be transferred to the library for use during the remainder of the current fiscal year.
Separately Wednesday, commissioners approved the purchase of playground equipment for two city parks and improvements for one. Those parks include Freemont, East Side and the Veteran’s Memorial Park.
The work at Fremont will see the installation of a new playground at a cost of approximately $100,000. For Eastside plans are to add equipment to the existing playground area with $32,000 still needing to be raised before work can commence.
Work at the All Veterans Memorial will see the completion of a circle walkway to provide additional space for more tablets in the coming years. The cost for that work is around $130,000.
A portion of the project costs will be offset by a $500,000 drawdown from the Lake Kahola fund approved earlier this year by commissioners.
Commissioners also Community Improvement District package recommended by the RDA to bring Quick Trip to the Emporia community on a portion of the Debauge-Krueger property tract just west of the Flint Hills Technical College main campus
Commissioners adjourned the meeting until Dec. 30 at 10:45 am. The city will not have a meeting next week due to the Christmas holiday.
