City Council

Special Council Meeting March 19, 2020 1. Mayor Scott Schultz called the special meeting to order at 5:00pm. Present were Council members David Butler, Kale Dankenbring and Amanda Milne. Also present were City Attorney Lauren Reyelts and City Clerk Lila Whitmore. Council members Dara Carmichael and Larry Finley and City Superintendent JR Landenberger were absent. 2. Earlier in the day the County Commissioners had declared a State of Emergency in response to COVID-19. Access to the Cheyenne County Courthouse is restricted immediately and until further notice. County employees will continue to work as normal. A process has been put into place for citizens to obtain entry into the building if necessary by completing a health screening questionnaire. The Council discussed implementing a similar plan for City Hall. The Council discussed utility payments. Information has already been posted to the City website on options available to residents to pay their utility bills online, via mail, as well as utilizing the drop box. There is very little business that would require access to City Hall. A health screening process could be used for things such as building permits or tree trim licenses. Clerk Whitmore and office staff will work with our customers to assist them in any way they can. A motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale to approve the Mayor’s DECLARATION OF A STATE OF LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY FOR THE CITY OF ST. FRANCIS, KANSAS. Motion passed. The declaration states that “the City Office will be locked during business hours, and anyone who needs to enter the City Office will need to call the City Office at 785-332-3142 to have the employees in the City Office ask questions for a health screening. A person must answer “no” to all health screening questions to be admitted to the City Office, and such person must be admitted the same day as answering the screening questions.” The declaration shall remain until such time as revoked by consent of the St. Francis City Council. A motion was made by David and seconded by Kale for Lila to create a press release similar to the one the County issued but specifying that admittance to the building must be on the same day as when the screening is done. Motion passed with all voting yes. 3. At 5:41, a motion was made by Amanda and seconded by Kale to adjourn the special meeting. Motion passed. ___________________________________________ City Clerk