Effective immediately: Republic County Travel Restrictions are hereby rescinded.  All counties previously listed are recommended to restrict travel to those areas unless for essential travel, if travel to such areas is done, it is advised to monitor for any Covid-19 related symptoms.   All mandates on travel through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are still in force.

Justin L. Ferrell

**The Kansas counties referenced previously imposing quarantine were Johnson, Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Ford, Seward, Finney and Lyon.  Nebraska counties were Hall, Dawson, Sarpy, Adams, Lancaster and Douglas.

KDHE quarantine orders are still in effect for travel to certain states including Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, or have been on a cruise ship or river cruise, or traveled internationally. 

ORDER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH/HEALTH OFFICER REGARDING THE GOVERNORS PHASED RE-OPENING PLAN

PHASE THREE

Emergency Public Health Order issued on the 6th day of April 2020, and renewed on May 26, 2020, to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in Republic County, Kansas pursuant to the authority provided in K.S.A. 65-119 and K.S.A 65-129b and other applicable laws and regulations.

            WHEREAS, the local health officer is authorized and required, pursuant to K.S.A. 65-119 and K.S.A. 65-129b to immediately  exercise and maintain supervision over known or suspected cases of an infectious or contagious disease during its continuance, and to issue orders seeing that all such cases are properly handled and that the provisions of the Kansas public health laws as to isolation, quarantine, and disinfection are duly enforced;  and

            WHEREAS, the local health officer is authorized to prohibit public gatherings when necessary for the control of any and all infectious or contagious diseases pursuant to K.S.A. 65-119; and

            WHEREAS, on the 17^th day of March, 2020, the Governor of the State of Kansas proclaimed a State of Disaster Emergency as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), such State of Disaster Emergency was renewed on May 4^th 2020, and May 27^th 2020 and,

            WHEREAS, such conditions endanger the health, safety and welfare of people and property; and

            WHEREAS, in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), and the Republic County Health Officer all recommend implementation of community mitigation strategies to increase containment of the virus, including cancellation of large gatherings and social distancing in smaller gatherings.

            WHEREAS, this order serves to guide Republic County in controlling the spread of Covid-19.

            WHEREAS, the Order issued by the Republic County Health Officer on May 22nd, 2020 is hereby rescinded, and this order shall take its place, at 12:01 AM on June 1, 2020,

            NOW THEREFORE IT BE ORDERED by the Republic County Local Health Officer, and ordered until further notice or action:

Effective as of the 1st of June at 12:01AM

Section 1. Restaurants may reopen for dine-in services, Bars and Night Clubs may open at seventy-five 75% capacity in compliance with the guidelines listed below:

1.      Tables must be placed six (6) feet apart as to adhere to social distancing requirements.

2.      No more than seventy-five (75) people in a group which is to be six (6) feet away from another group.  Extra chairs shall be removed as to not inadvertently violate the 75 person limit. 

3.      Booths must have plexiglass, plywood or some other solid material separating them from the booths in front and behind them, should this not be able to be performed, the restaurant may allow for every other booth to be used.  Cardboard is not considered per this order as a solid material.

4.      Patrons shall not be allowed to go from one group to another.

5.      For the sake of this order the 75 people will only be tabulated as to customers.  Wait staff, bartenders and cooks, and other employees are not counted toward that 75 person limit.

6.      Take out and curbside services are strongly encouraged. 

7.      No self-service or buffet style dining.  Drink fountains may open, but only with the use of new cups, thermos, or other containers is permissible. 

8.      Seating will be allowed at bar areas only if social distancing can be maintained.

9.      Business shall follow the guidance regarding the State orders via https://covid.ks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Business-Guidance.pdf

Section 2:  Parks and playground equipment will reopen to the public with the following guidelines:

1.      No groups larger than 75 people.

2.      Adhere to social distancing from other groups or infrequent contact when unavoidable.

3.      Pools and splash pads may open, with proper sanitizing and social distancing.  Pools shall adhere to the limit of 75 people or less.  The 75 person limit does not include pool staff.

Section 3.  The Republic County Courthouse shall re-open to the public on May 26^th, 2020.  Those wishing to conduct business in the Republic County Courthouse will be subject to temperature checks upon entering and other relevant health screening.  Social distancing or infrequent contact shall be observed.  Those conducting business shall use the east door for the Republic County Courthouse.  June 8^th, 2020 the Republic County Courthouse will resume regular operations.

Section 4. Nail salons, barber shops, hair salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors and other personal service businesses where close contact cannot be avoided may open, but only for pre-scheduled appointments or online check-in.  Only one customer per station shall be allowed.  Waiting rooms shall be closed, and anyone dropping off a customer shall not wait inside the business for the customer.  Masks shall be worn by both employees and customers, and when feasible social distancing and intermittent contact shall be observed.  Each work station shall be sanitized completely between each customer.

Section 5. Fitness centers and health clubs may open, locker rooms must be closed except as necessary to use restroom facilities.  Employees and patrons shall sanitize all equipment after each use.  Social distancing shall be observed and no more than 75 people will be allowed in a room at the same time.

Section 6. Baseball, softball, t-ball, and K-18 teams may begin practice on Friday, May 22.  Games played shall adhere to sanitation of bats, balls, and other equipment for both teams.  Such sanitation shall be;

1.      Wiping down bats after each player’s use.

2.      Sanitation of balls in-between innings.

3.      Hand sanitizer available in each dug out.

4.      Social distancing when feasible shall be adhered to, and when not feasible brief intermittent contact

Section 7.Movie Theaters, theaters, and bowling alleys may reopen.  Such locations shall adhere to social distancing requirements, and follow fundamental cleaning and public health practices detailed at covid.ks.gov.  Such locations shall avoid any instances in which groups of more than 75 individuals are in one location and unable to maintain a 6 foot distance with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.  This does not limit the total occupancy of a business but requires that businesses limit mass gatherings in areas and instances in which social distancing cannot be maintained, such as at table, entrances, lobbies, break rooms, check out areas, etc.

Section 8.  In-person commencement or graduation ceremonies may occur with no more than 75 individuals in a room, gymnasium, or facility at one time as long as 6-foot social distancing is maintained. Outdoor drive-through graduation ceremonies during which no more than 75 individuals are in the same area outside of their vehicles at a time (i.e. school administration, graduate, family members, etc.) are allowed.

Section 9.  Pursuant to K.S.A. 65-129b, and K.S.A. 65-119, any sheriff, deputy sheriff or other law enforcement officer of the state or any political subdivision within Republic County, Kansas is hereby ordered to assist in the execution and enforcement of this order.  Violation of such order is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine per KSA 48-939

            Section 10. This order       may be supplemented, modified or rescinded as required for the effective and efficient management and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the County by further order or direction of the Republic County Board of Commissioners or by the Republic County Health Officer.

            Section 11.  The re-opening matrix attached to the is order entitled Republic County Reopening Plan, is hereby incorporated into this order, such Reopening Plan may be supplemented, modified or rescinded as required for the effective and efficient management and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the County by further order or direction of the Republic County Board of Commissioners or by the Republic County Health Officer.

IT IS SO ORDERED THE 1^st DAY OF JUNE, 2020

Danielle Swanson

Republic County Health Officer

 RESULTS OF THE APPRAISER'S MARKET STUDY ANALYSIS FOR 2020