Gardner forgives many March electric bills for residents, businesses

With many residents and business owners hurting financially because of the new coronavirus, the city of Gardner is forgiving many of the electricity charges it billed during March.

The move, which will cost Gardner about $790,000 in lost revenue, eliminates the entire monthly bill for residential customers and will grant credit for the first 5,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity used by businesses.

“We know we have residents who are financially struggling with bills and other obligations due to the impacts of COVID-19,” Gardner Mayor Steve Shute said in a news release. “We are fortunate that we own our utilities, so we can authorize these changes and provide this much-welcome relief for all in our community while they wait for federal government assistance.”

The mayor said the city has “a robust electric fund” that can absorb the revenue loss.

“This is a time we have to take care of one another, and that should start with leadership,” he said.

Children’s Mercy halts some services in Johnson County

Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas, near College Boulevard and Nall Avenue in Overland Park, has temporarily closed its inpatient units and operating rooms, consolidating all inpatient, procedural and surgical care at the hospital’s main campus on Hospital Hill in Kansas City.

An April 1 announcement to donors said the decision was made in preparation for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients.

“The move will help conserve supplies and use our staffing efficiently,” Children’s Mercy president and CEO Paul Kempinski wrote.

The Kansas hospital’s emergency department remained open as of April 1, as were radiology, pharmacy and laboratory services.

Pandemic cancels Old Shawnee Days

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed its first major festival in Johnson County: Old Shawnee Days, which was to have been held June 4-7.

After consulting with city and county officials, the Old Shawnee Days Society canceled the event to avoid jeopardizing the health of the organizers, vendors, volunteers and those attending.

“Thank you all for making Old Shawnee Days an annual tradition for the past 54 years and we look forward to seeing you in June 2021,” the announcement said.

Farmers markets: open or not?

Lenexa has indefinitely postponed the April 25 opening of its Farmers’ Market, and Overland Park recently decided to put its market on hold.

“Providing access to fresh, local food is very important to this community,” the city of Lenexa announced. “But our top priority right now is to ensure the safety and health of our vendors, shoppers and staff as we deal with COVID-19.”

Organizers are still trying to decide whether to open the farmers market in Olathe. Shawnee is pushing back the date of its farmers market opening to June 6.

Leawood bike loop delayed

By last fall, Leawood officials had hoped that signs would be up to mark the city’s second bike loop route, planned in the southern part of the city.

Spring has arrived, but the signs still aren’t up.

Brian Anderson, of the Leawood Parks & Recreation Department, said the delay was caused by Mission Road construction south of 119th Street. Utility relocation took longer than expected.

Now the coronavirus pandemic has put the project on indefinite hold.

“Public works hasn’t put the project out to bid,” Anderson said by email, “and we are down to only essential functions.”

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Gardner forgives many March electric bills for residents, businesses."