The Atchison County Commission met Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Present were Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.
The collector’s monthly report was reviewed and approved.
The commission met with Atchison County Emergency Management Director Rhonda Wiley, Atchison County Sheriff Dennis Martin, and Atchison County Health Administrator Julie Livengood to discuss details that needed to be included in a joint press release to address rumors and make a effort to get citizens to look toward a trusted source for information. Director Wiley and Administrator Livengood will address theses concerns and send the press release out today.
The commissioners met with Prosecuting Attorney Brett Hurst to discuss the legality of enforcing stronger orders for sheltering in place.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
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The Commission met Thursday, March 26, 2020. Present were Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.
Clerk Taylor reported that she had just completed a two-day cyber security audit, detailing the security of the election process in Atchison County. The audit was funded by the Secretary of State and performed by Cyber Defense. Michael Richardson from Midwest Data Center participated in the audit to provide technical information related to their security measures. The information will be provided to the Secretary of State upon completion.
At 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, citizens were notified of Atchison County’s first positive COVID-19 diagnosis. With this information, Emergency Management Director Rhonda Wiley organized a Zoom meeting at 10:00 a.m. from the commission room. Those participating from their own locations in addition to the commissioners and Emergency Management Director Wiley were: Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission; Sheriff Dennis Martin; Mayor Rod Meinders, Watson; Mayor Jerry Kirkpatrick, Westboro; Mayor Tim Morehouse, Tarkio; Mayor Ryan Kingery, Fairfax; Mayor Chris Chamberlain, Rock Port; Mark Manchester, Emergency Management Assistant Director; Julie Jones, Administrator, Community Hospital-Fairfax; Andy Riley, Tarkio Alderman; W.C. Farmer, Atchison County Mail; and Julie Livengood, Atchison County Health Department Administrator.
Emergency Management Director Wiley and Presiding Commissioner Livengood opened the meeting and thanked everyone for participating in the county’s first Zoom meeting.
Julie Livengood reported on the first positive COVID-19 patient in Atchison County. She stated that the patient is self-isolated in the home and being monitored by the health department. She further commented that all contacts have been notified and the investigation is complete. She emphasized the fact “if you were not contacted by the Health Department you have no need to worry, but reminded everyone to just please stay home if you can.”
Mayor Tim Morehouse asked if there was now going to be any change to the current recommendations for Atchison County citizens. Presiding Commissioner Livengood stated not at this time, but people should stay home when possible and continue to follow all guidelines from the CDC and the County Health Department.
South District Com-missioner Burke asked about the tent that was set up at the hospital. Community Hospital-Fairfax Administrator Julie Jones stated that it has been set up for screening and information about the hours of operation can be found on their website. She also reported that the clinics are now set up to do virtual visits.
Emergency Management Director Wiley stated that following the meeting, another joint press release would be issued and encouraged all the mayors, as leaders within their own communities, to share the press releases within their own communities to assist with getting accurate information out as quickly as possible.
Commissioner Livengood thanked everyone for taking the time to participate in the call and asked them to encourage their communities to follow the CDC guidelines.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood then sent out a verbal CODE-RED message to all businesses and citizens who have signed up. If you have not received a verbal message from Emergency Management Director Wiley or Presiding Commissioner Livengood during the past week, then you are not signed up to receive the CODE-RED calls. Please contact the Emergency Management office at 660-744-6308 to add your contact information.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
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The Commission met Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.
The commissioners met with R. Aron Burke, M.D., Atchison County Medical Director; Rhonda Wiley, Emergency Management Director; Sheriff Dennis Martin; and Julie Livengood, Atchison County Health Administrator. Dr. Burke and Health Administrator Livengood requested that the commission take necessary and appropriate actions to reduce the possibility of exposure and spread of COVID-19.
After extensive discussion, a joint proclamation was drafted for release. The following proclamation was unanimously approved for public release.
HEALTH EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION
A proclamation declaring a Health emergency regarding COVID-19 in the county of Atchison, Missouri, and recommending a “Safer at Home” request as a preventative measure to restrict the transmission thereof.
Be it proclaimed by the Atchison County Medical Director; the Atchison County Health Department, and the Atchison County Commission of Atchison County, Missouri, as follows:
Whereas, in December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now designated as COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan, China; and
Whereas, symptoms of the COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and can range from mild to severe illness and in some cases, death; and
Whereas, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic; and
Whereas, the Center of Disease Control (CDC), State and Local Public Health Officials are closely monitoring the growing number of COVID-19 cases that have spread into the United States; and
Whereas, as of Monday, March 30, 2020, there have been 1,031 confirmed cases in the State of Missouri resulting in 13 deaths thus far: and
Whereas, therefore the Atchison County Medical Director, the Atchison County Health Department, and the Atchison County Commission strongly encourage all residents to follow the below recommendations:
1) To the maximum extent possible, “Stay Safe at Home” by remaining in their respective residences, avoiding contact with people with whom they do not reside, and avoiding public places except as necessary to obtain food, supplies, and medical treatment.
2) Remain home if sick or ill, except to seek medical treatment from a licensed medical provider. We encourage you to call ahead so you may be directed to the correct point of treatment.
3) Avoid all social gatherings in groups of 10 or more people.
4) Implement personal protective measures, such as staying home when sick, frequent handwashing, and routine cleaning of surfaces.
5) Avoid individual travel except for attending work; obtaining food supplies, medicine, medical treatment; and participating in outdoor recreational activities, while continuing social distancing.
6) Engage in social distancing by taking responsible efforts to be separated from other individuals by at least six feet.
7) Education and childcare must be limited to 10 children or less with consistent clientele.
Whereas, furthermore, it is strongly encouraged that all local businesses that do remain open adhere to the social distancing guidelines as set out by the CDC. If your business is unable to abide by those guidelines it may be in the publics best interest to suspend services at this time. Current guidance issued by the CDC for businesses and workplaces is: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
Whereas, by the order of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Administrator of the Atchison County Health Department all food establishments must serve customers via drive-thru, pick-up, or delivery only; effective 12:01 a.m. April 1, 2020, until 12:01 a.m., May 1, 2020; and
Now, therefore, we, the Atchison County Medical Director; the Atchison County Health Department, and the Atchison County Commission, by virtue of the authority vested in us by the laws of Missouri, do hereby proclaim a health emergency in the County of Atchison, Missouri and urge all residents to adhere to the recommendations set forth in this proclamation.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of March, 2020. /s/ R. Aron Burke, M.D., Atchison County Medical Director; Julie Livengood, Atchison County Health Department Administrator; Curtis Livengood, Presiding Commissioner; Richard Burke, South District Commissioner; James Quimby, North District Commissioner.
The proclamation will be broadcast by R. Aron Burke, M.D. and sent out to media outlets by Atchison County Emergency Management Director Rhonda Wiley and Atchison County Health Department Administrator Julie Livengood.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
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The Commission met Thursday, April 2, 2020. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.
Monthly department reports were reviewed and approved.
Maintenance Supervisor Greg Beck met with the commission to discuss setting a bid date for new steps and sidewalk from the courthouse to the street on the east side of the building and a second bid to remove and replace a section of sidewalk in front of the Sheriff’s Department. The commission approved the projects for bid and set a bid opening date of April 21, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. Clerk Taylor will prepare the bid specifications for advertisement.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
