Lyon County commissioners will revisit the county’s coronavirus-based public health order and disaster declaration when they meet in action session Thursday.
The public health order currently sets a 2,000-person mass gathering limit for inside and outside events if pods of up to 10 people can remain socially distanced from other pods and everybody can use recommended hand hygiene methods from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The order, set to expire Nov. 12, does not include a mask or facial covering mandate for residents outside the Emporia city limits, however, the possibility of a mandate will be a discussion topic for commissioners during Thursday’s session.
Discussions regarding tighter restrictions on mass gathering limits will also be given attention during that time.
Commissioners will also review the declaration, which eases the process for obtaining federal reimbursement dollars and state assistance. The document has been in place since late March and was extended in September.
Both policy items are being discussed with Lyon County adding over 100 coronavirus cases since Friday and the active caseload more than doubling over that same time span.
Commissioners have a busy agenda on top of that discussion. LCAT Finance Officer Shane Brunner will present a grant application for county matching funds to take advantage of state funding. County Engineer Chip Woods has several requests for equipment purchases. And County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy will present a request to install key card access at several communications towers across the county.
The meeting starts at 9 am at the County Courthouse.
