The Atchison County Commission met Thursday, July 23, 2020. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.
The commission discussed the antibody testing that was offered to all citizens in the county and agreed that it was well advertised. Testing will no longer be offered as part of the CARES Act funding.
The commission met with Dr. Aron Burke, Atchison County Health Director; Julie Livengood, Atchison County Health Administrator; Rhonda Wiley, AC911/Emergency Management Director; and Sheriff Dennis Martin to discuss the current COVID-19 needs in Atchison County. With the sudden increase in cases, Dr. Burke issued a statement to encourage citizens to wear a mask in public. Citizens have accepted the warning and no new cases are recorded so far. Everyone was in agreement to use CARES Act funding to continue testing those who showed positive antibody results once per month to see how long the antibodies remain in the system. This would be on a voluntary basis and Julie Livengood will work with the individuals.
Discussion was held about school reopening plans. Julie Livengood stated that she has been in contact with all three districts. Clerk Taylor has reached out to all districts to see if they have additional unbudgeted needs related to COVID-19 that might be able to be addressed through funding received by the county.
The group will meet again on Tuesday and then every two weeks as needed.
The commission then adjourned.
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The commission met Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.
Additions and abatements to the tax books were approved as follows:
Personal Property – June 2020: Additions to the Tax Books – 2016, $133.53; 2017, $122.50; 2018, $331.03; 2019, $3,892.35.
Abatements from the Tax Books – 2019, $20.00.
There were no additions or abatements to the real books.
Clerk Taylor addressed the commission about amending the date of qualification on the CARES Act funding application from March 30 to March 1. Legal information has clarified that the March 1 date is the allowable date for COVID-19 expenses to qualify for funding. The commissioners voted to approve the date change from March 30 to March 1, 2020.
The COVID-19 Cares team met with the commission for an update. Those present were: Sheriff Dennis Martin; Julie Livengood, Atchison County Health Director; Rhonda Wiley, AC911/Emergency Management Director; and Dr. Aron Burke, Atchison County Health Director.
Julie Livengood gave the following update:
• Atchison County has 11 total COVID-19 positive cases with one considered active. The Missouri Department of Health’s COVID-19 Dashboard has Atchison County at 13 cases. Upon investigation, it was found that two residents who tested antibody positive were incorrectly assigned as confirmed COVID-19 positive. This was changed yesterday and the Missouri Department of Health website should reflect the corrected information soon.
• As soon as all of the antibody testing results come in, they will tally up the information and share in an appropriate way.
• A total of 433 PCR or active COVID-19 tests have been performed for Atchison County residents since April 3, 2020. Atchison County’s positivity rate is 2.5%. The Missouri rate is 6.2%, with a seven-day percent positive rate of 8.6%.
• It is looking like a vaccine for COVID-19 may be available in January 2021 and that it may be a one to three dose series. Companies are in Phases 2 and 3 of testing trials.
• Atchison County 911 dispatchers will work with the Atchison County Health Department to perform contact tracing as needed.
Atchison County Treasurer Debbie True presented the six-month settlement for all county funds. It was reviewed and approved.
The commission then adjourned.
