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Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson on Monday declared a local state of emergency for the city in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The declaration will prompt the closure of city hall and the public works administration building to the public starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Additionally, it gives the city the authority to order business establishments, including bars and restaurants, to close temporarily; and to enforce the governor’s recently announced statewide restriction on gatherings of 50 or more people.
The city council will convene at a special session Wednesday afternoon to discuss the length of the emergency declaration.
“This unprecedented pandemic requires prompt, extraordinary measures to reduce the speed and incidence of COVID-19’s transmission and infection rate through our community,” Mikkelson said. “To protect the health of residents and City employees, we are prepared to use all available tools. In addition to these measures, we encourage all Prairie Village residents, businesses and other organizations to practice social distancing and swiftly implement all appropriate risk mitigation measures within their control.”
The city administration said it was prepared to continue executing essential and emergency services. City staff will continue to operate out of their municipal offices, but residents who have business with the city will need to conduct it by phone, email or the internet.
Mikkelson urged residents to check in on older neighbors via email and phone.
“Data indicates that this virus is particularly harmful to those over the age of 50,” Mikkelson said. “Please reach out to your neighbors, check in on them, and see if there’s anything you can do to help mitigate risks while maintaining appropriate social distance.”
Prairie Village and Leawood have both canceled their regularly scheduled city council meetings that would have taken place tonight.
