County Council Cancels April Meeting
April 6, 2020 at 10:49 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Items that were scheduled to be heard at the meeting did not require immediate approval and can be addressed at the next meeting.
Even though the council is not holding its regularly scheduled meeting, many of the council members have been involved with webinars and conference calls on the national, state and local levels, learning ways to help with discussions on the COVID-19 virus. There are many issues that require planning and implementation as Kosciusko County moves through this unprecedented issue.
Conference calls with U.S. Senator Mike Braun and Rep. Jim Banks provided insight into the steps related to the COVID-19 virus taken on the national level, the release states. Braun availed his staff to the council that was knowledgeable on how the actions taken at the national level will impact local governments. Banks and his staff shared information related to small business programs that are available.
Purdue provided webinars on the financial impact on local government property taxes and state income tax, along with the way government bonds will be impacted. Information also was provided by Purdue about the pending Census and the importance of everyone being counted by their interaction, saving the need to send workers out to enumerate the residents in households. Every person not counted could translate to lost dollars that are not returned to Kosciusko County. Keeping the public informed accurately and timely through websites and press releases were covered in an in-depth webinar reference emergency communication, the release states.
Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson provided a detailed webinar on the interworkings of the software being provided by the state, not only for the safety and protection of the election data, but all data housed by counties. Information on the benefits above and beyond just a normal firewall was presented, along with the service of providing a plan if/when a breech in the system is detected. All counties in Indiana are required to have the software installed on their systems.
Financial consultant BakerTilly provided several webinars related to small business help available to benefit economic growth for the community. Facts on the disrupted economic impact to local government and small business was addressed. Information also was provided on municipal bonds.
The Association of Indiana Counties (AIC), in partnership with Ice Miller law firm, provided a webinar on the requirements for employee compensation both from the government and the private sector perspective. There are certain protocols that must be followed reference COVID-19 and Family Medical Leave Act and other employee benefits. Details for the implementation of a plan, if employees test positive, must be established by local government as with all businesses assuring that appropriate steps are taken once a confirmed case is determined.
Kosciusko County Health Officer Dr. William Remington, in conjunction with KEDCo and the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, provided a conference call bringing employers, government leaders and nonprofits up to speed on current data and expectations of things to come. Remington emphasized staying home and staying alive.
It is the hope of the Kosciusko County Council that residents of the county will follow the lead of the council and stay home, the release states. If you have questions reference county issues, contact any of the following County Council members: Doug Heinisch, District 1; Mike Long, District 2; Ernie Wiggins, District 3; Jon Garber, District 4. The council at-large members are Kimberly Cates, Sue Ann Mitchell and Joni Truex.
Council member phone numbers and e-mail address and additional information pertaining to the Kosciusko County Council can be found by going to the county website at kcgov.com and clicking on elected officials, county council.
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Items that were scheduled to be heard at the meeting did not require immediate approval and can be addressed at the next meeting.
Even though the council is not holding its regularly scheduled meeting, many of the council members have been involved with webinars and conference calls on the national, state and local levels, learning ways to help with discussions on the COVID-19 virus. There are many issues that require planning and implementation as Kosciusko County moves through this unprecedented issue.
Conference calls with U.S. Senator Mike Braun and Rep. Jim Banks provided insight into the steps related to the COVID-19 virus taken on the national level, the release states. Braun availed his staff to the council that was knowledgeable on how the actions taken at the national level will impact local governments. Banks and his staff shared information related to small business programs that are available.
Purdue provided webinars on the financial impact on local government property taxes and state income tax, along with the way government bonds will be impacted. Information also was provided by Purdue about the pending Census and the importance of everyone being counted by their interaction, saving the need to send workers out to enumerate the residents in households. Every person not counted could translate to lost dollars that are not returned to Kosciusko County. Keeping the public informed accurately and timely through websites and press releases were covered in an in-depth webinar reference emergency communication, the release states.
Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson provided a detailed webinar on the interworkings of the software being provided by the state, not only for the safety and protection of the election data, but all data housed by counties. Information on the benefits above and beyond just a normal firewall was presented, along with the service of providing a plan if/when a breech in the system is detected. All counties in Indiana are required to have the software installed on their systems.
Financial consultant BakerTilly provided several webinars related to small business help available to benefit economic growth for the community. Facts on the disrupted economic impact to local government and small business was addressed. Information also was provided on municipal bonds.
The Association of Indiana Counties (AIC), in partnership with Ice Miller law firm, provided a webinar on the requirements for employee compensation both from the government and the private sector perspective. There are certain protocols that must be followed reference COVID-19 and Family Medical Leave Act and other employee benefits. Details for the implementation of a plan, if employees test positive, must be established by local government as with all businesses assuring that appropriate steps are taken once a confirmed case is determined.
Kosciusko County Health Officer Dr. William Remington, in conjunction with KEDCo and the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, provided a conference call bringing employers, government leaders and nonprofits up to speed on current data and expectations of things to come. Remington emphasized staying home and staying alive.
It is the hope of the Kosciusko County Council that residents of the county will follow the lead of the council and stay home, the release states. If you have questions reference county issues, contact any of the following County Council members: Doug Heinisch, District 1; Mike Long, District 2; Ernie Wiggins, District 3; Jon Garber, District 4. The council at-large members are Kimberly Cates, Sue Ann Mitchell and Joni Truex.
Council member phone numbers and e-mail address and additional information pertaining to the Kosciusko County Council can be found by going to the county website at kcgov.com and clicking on elected officials, county council.
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