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New Frankfort Aquatic Center To Be Placed On Hold

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The City of Frankfort is facing tough financial decisions as a result of the COVID-19 economic downturn. One project to be discussed on Monday, April 13, 2020, City Council meeting is the planned aquatic center at the T.P.A. park.

When bids were opened in February 2020, the lowest bid was some $1.6 million over projected cost. The aquatic center timeline has been that work would begin in 2020 with an opening in 2021.

A work session in March 2020 consisting of the Parks Councilmatic committee and Kyle Lueken of HWC Engineering found nearly a million dollars of cuts through the removal of the concession stand and having the street department work on doing paving in-house.

The current Monday night agenda calls for “a resolution delaying TPA Aquatic Center Project”.

The economic impact of COVID-19 facing the City is multifold. The City is facing a delayed property tax draw, normally in the month of June, it has been pushed to July. This is a result of a March 19, 2020, executive order issued by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb stating non-escrowed property tax payments set for May 11 are still due, but counties are to waive all penalties on payments made after May 11, 2020, for a period of 60-days.

The Department of Local Government Finance issued a memo stating spring 2019, pay 2020 tax bill for non-escrowed property owners “may be paid up to and including July 10, 2020, without penalty.”

The City is also looking at how best to address underfunded carryovers from 2019. These are projects/programs that have carried over into 2020 but lack the necessary funding.

Also, the City will face a changing local income tax revenue target as a result of a 90-day extension in the filing of state tax returns to July 15, this was done by the executive order of Governor Holcomb on March 19, 2020.

Local income tax is also impacted by an unknown unemployment rate. Fewer workers in the labor market working yield less revenue for the City via local income tax collected.

Those are just a few of the issues impacting the City’s finances and one of several projects that will face scrutiny in the coming months.

Clinton County Today will report the outcome of the City Council meeting as well as monitor the City’s response to the fiscal challenge in future articles.

The City Council meeting can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel. That information and the full city council agenda can be found here:

City Council Agenda – 4/13/2020

Now 11 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 In Clinton County

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There is 1 death related to COVID-19 in Clinton County as of Friday, April 10, 2020, 11 cases of COVID-19 and at least 153 Residents of Clinton County have been tested as reported by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH).

The ISDH today, Friday, April 10, 2020, announced that 556 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 6,907 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.

A total of 300 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

To date, 35,040 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 32,133 on Thursday.

Clinton County Has 1st Reported Death Related to COVID-19

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The Indiana State Department of Health today, Thursday, April 9, 2020, reported the 1st death related to COVID-19 in Clinton County. No additional information is available at this time.

At least 144 Clinton County residents have been tested.

The ISDH also announced that 408 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 6,351 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.

A total of 245 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.

To date, 32,133 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 30,869 on Wednesday.

Should All Golf Courses In Clinton County Be Closed?

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Photos of golf being played at Frankfort Commons golf course circulated local Facebook groups yesterday, Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

Many asked whether the executive order by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb stating only essential travel for Hoosiers should apply to those traveling to and from golf courses is “essential.”

Others asked if golf is “essential” at all.

Clinton County Today has gone to the Monday, April 6, 2020, press release of Clinton County Health Officer, Dr. Stephen D. Tharp, MD, where he said, “Playing in the park, on the basketball court, or on the golf course puts you and your family and friends at risk of infection.”

So, should all golf courses in Clinton County be closed?

8 Cases Now Of COVID-19 In Clinton County, Closely Following Curve Of Italy & NYC

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The Indiana State Department of Health reported 8 cases of COVID-19 in Clinton County today, April 8, 2020, 144 Clinton County residents have been tested.

On Monday, April 6, 2020, Clinton County Health Officer Dr. Stephen Tharp, MD, issued a press release, “Yesterday [Sunday, April 5] was also the day we had 4 people in Clinton County with COVID-19. This does not sound like a lot, but in 4 days we have gone from one to four. That makes our doubling time about 2 days.”

Just 24-hours ago on Tuesday, April 5, Clinton County had 5 COVID-19 cases. The milestone of reaching 8 cases took 1-day longer than Dr. Tharp’s modeling.

“If this calculation is correct, we are on the same curve as Italy and New York City. That means in 2 more days we will have 8 cases and in 2 days after that 16 cases in Clinton County.”

Below are Dr. Tharp’s guidelines to slow the spread as originally written in his press release:

Wash your hands with soap and water at least 4 times a day and anytime you touch anything outside your home.

Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow sleeve and wash your hands afterwards.

STAY HOME!!! Do not leave your home unless you absolutely must! Every time you pass by someone else you risk infection. If you just want to talk to your friends, use your phone!!!

Playing in the park, on the basketball court, or on the golf course puts you and your family and friends at risk of infection.

If you must go out for essential reasons, do not go inside a store or place of business any longer than absolutely necessary. Do not touch anything you do not have to touch. If there is a line, stay outside until it is your turn and keep away from anyone else at least 6 feet (10 feet is better). Consider having items delivered rather than shopping in person.

Wearing a cloth mask or even a scarf, over your nose and mouth outside your home will also help stop the spread of COVID-19. A paper surgical mask may be a little better and is needed by our medical professionals. Please use a re-usable fabric mask instead.

Remember- by following these measures you just might save a life!

Three Communities Plus County Combine To Receive Over $1.7 Million In Community Crossings Grant Awards

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The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced today, Tuesday, April 7, 2020, the 2020-1 Community Crossings Matching Grant award recipients.

Frankfort, Kirklin, Mulberry, and Clinton County combined will receive $1,702,010.85 in Community Crossings matching grants from INDOT for local projects through the Next Level Roads program.

Frankfort, Kirklin, Mulberry, and Clinton County are among 217 cities, towns, and counties that received a combined $126,560,741 in matching state dollars.

A breakdown of the grant money:

Clinton County $947,984.94
Frankfort $221,240.50
Kirklin $216,685.20
Mulberry $316,100.21

“Our Social Distancing Seems To Be Helping”

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Message From Clinton County Health Officer – April 7, 2020

Yesterday Governor Holcomb renewed his stay-at-home order. He emphasized several details of his order. Businesses must adhere to the CDC recommendations for maintaining social distancing. This includes limiting the number of shoppers as required to maintain social distance of at least six feet apart.

We should postpone making in-person purchases of goods and services unless and until such items are needed for sustenance, health, education or employment.

We should use online ordering with delivery or call-in delivering with delivery or curbside pickup as much as possible.

If we must shop in person, we should go to the fewest number of businesses as needed, spend the least amount of time needed and not take other people along as much as possible.

Today we now have 5 cases of COVID-19 in Clinton County. I am saddened whenever I hear of anyone suffering with this terrible disease. That said, our social distancing seems to be helping! We are better than my first prediction, but we are still increasing.

Please continue to STAY HOME, wash your hands at least four times a day and keep your distance-and your health!

Sincerely,
Stephen D Tharp, MD
Health Officer

The Next Two Weeks Are Crucial To Slowing The Spread Of COVID-19

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Good evening,

Governor Holcomb issued another executive order this afternoon regarding the response to COVID-19. In accordance, we are extending the orange travel advisory for Clinton County until April 20th. Essential travel only. That means DO NOT travel unless it is for work, groceries, medicine, to pick up materials from school for distance learning, to transport children because of a custody agreement, court-ordered appearance, or to care for loved ones. If you do have to leave the house for any of these reasons, please wear a mask. Even if it’s a homemade mask, please wear something to help prevent yourself from being exposed.

If you are a business, we urge you to read the Governor’s Executive Orders. Including executive orders 20-08 and 20-18 that require the cessation of all business that is not defined as essential. The Governor has also offered further clarification on what is considered an essential business, and how essential businesses are to operate. We are keeping a close watch on our local businesses and will work with the Governor’s Enforcement Response Team to make sure the guidelines for retail businesses in the executive order are followed.

Also included in the Governor’s Executive Order are the following: All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, children’s play centers, playgrounds, funplexes, theme parks, bowling alleys, movie and other theaters, concert and music halls, and country clubs or social clubs, shall be closed.

We urge you to read the content of the Governor’s Executive Order yourselves. To do so, go to IN.gov. Click on the Governor’s website and scroll down to Executive Orders.

The next two weeks are crucial to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Most of us have been at home for the last 2-3 weeks already, and we know that is starting to wear on everyone. Being isolated is not easy. We urge you to stick with us for two more weeks and let COVID-19 peak. Even if it makes life inconvenient, try your best for the next couple of weeks to reduce you and your family’s exposure.

Sincerely,

Mayor Judith Sheets, Commissioners Steve Woods, Scott Shoemaker, and Josh Uitts

Clinton County Could Be On The Same COVID-19 Curve As Italy & New York City

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A message from the Clinton Couty Health Officer

April 6, 2020

Yesterday was Palm Sunday.

Yesterday was also the day we had 4 people in Clinton County with COVID-19. This does not sound like a lot, but in 4 days we have gone from one to four. That makes our doubling time about 2 days. If this calculation is correct, we are on the same curve as Italy and New York City. That means in 2 more days we will have 8 cases and in 2 days after that 16 cases in Clinton County. By Easter we will expect somewhere around 80 cases, many of them requiring hospital care. Now is the time we can change the outlook for our community. The only tool we have is our behavior!

Please take to heart the lessons painfully learned in the past few weeks:

Wash your hands with soap and water at least 4 times a day and anytime you touch anything outside your home.

Cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow sleeve and wash your hands afterwards.
STAY HOME!!! Do not leave your home unless you absolutely must! Every time you pass by someone else you risk infection. If you just want to talk to your friends, use your phone!!!
Playing in the park, on the basketball court, or on the golf course puts you and your family and friends at risk of infection.

If you must go out for essential reasons, do not go inside a store or place of business any longer than absolutely necessary. Do not touch anything you do not have to touch. If there is a line, stay outside until it is your turn and keep away from anyone else at least 6 feet (10 feet is better). Consider having items delivered rather than shopping in person.

Wearing a cloth mask or even a scarf, over your nose and mouth outside your home will also help stop the spread of COVID-19. A paper surgical mask may be a little better and is needed by our medical professionals. Please use a re-usable fabric mask instead.
Remember- by following these measures you just might save a life!

Sincerely,

Stephen D. Tharp, MD
Clinton County Health Officer

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