WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Council has cancelled its regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 9, to lead by example on the importance of staying at home.

Items that were scheduled to be heard at the meeting did not require immediate approval and could be addressed at the next meeting.

Even though the council is not holding their regularly scheduled meeting, many of the council members have bene involved with webinars and conference calls on the national, state and local levels, learning ways to help with discussions on the COVID-19 virus. There are many issues that require planning and implementation as Kosciusko County moves through this unprecedented issue.

Nationally, conference calls with State Senator Mike Braun and Representative Jim Banks have provided insight into the steps related to the COVID-19 virus taken on the national level. Senator Braun availed his staff that was most knowledgeable on how the actions taken at the national level will impact local governments. Representative Banks and his staff shared information related to small business programs that are available.

Purdue has provided webinars on the financial impact on local government property taxes and state income ax along with the way government bonds will be impacted. Information was also provided by Purdue reference the pending census and the importance of everyone being counted by their interaction, saving the need to send workers out to enumerate the residents in households. Each of those who are not counted translate to lost dollars that are not returned to Kosciusko County. Keeping the public informed accurately and timely through websites and press releases were covered in an in-depth webinar reference emergency communication.

Kosciusko County Health Officer Dr. William Remington, in conjunction with KEDCo and the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, provided a conference call bringing employers, government leaders and non-profits up to speed on current data and expectations of things to come. Dr. Remington emphasized staying home and staying alive.

It is the hope of the Kosciusko County Council that residents of the county will follow the lead of the council and stay home. Community members who have questions reference county issues can contact any of the county council members. Council member phone numbers, e-mail addresses and additional information pertaining to the Kosciusko County Council can be found by going to the county website at kcgov.com.