By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
COVID-19 relief funds totaling $6.3 million dollars are headed to Geary County. Local leaders decided Monday to form a task force to help make recommendations and determine how to allocate the money.
Keith Ascher, Geary County Commission Chairman, said it will be a working group to collaborate and brainstorm. "What we can use this money for, what we'll probably see coming down the road in the future.
The funds must be used to address the impact of the coronavirus. There will be a future phase two to address economic and infrastructure issues, followed by a third phase of funding. One concern is spending it quickly enough to meet federal and state mandated guidelines.
Ascher said October is the time officials have received for having the money spent. "I'm guess I'm a little concerned do we have to have it spent or do we have to have it earmarked and then show that we have already ordered this because so much stuff is on back order. So if we're wanting to stockpile any supplies we may not get those by Oct. 31."
There could possibly be representatives from different entities on the task force including Geary County, Junction City, Milford, Grandview Plaza, USD 475, Geary Community Hospital and the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. Final action has not been taken at this point.