The City of Uniontown has received SPARK funds to help during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce is charged with leading Kansas forward in recovery from the far-reaching effects of COVID-19 with statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund, according to https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/
“The City of Uniontown did receive $39,041 in direct aid for various projects, not economic development, as designated by our application,” City Clerk Sally Johnson said.
There are two projects the city will use the funds for.
They will renovate the entrance to city hall to install a service window/barrier between public and city employees so that in-person transactions can be safely facilitated, Johnson said.
Personal Protection Equipment purchased July through December 2020 will be paid for with the funds as will purchasing hardware/software to effectively conduct virtual meetings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, she said.
The city government will also purchase and install a handwashing station and barriers, to allow for closure of public areas of congregation as needed, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Johnson said.
In addition, the city will purchase hardware/software to automate the city’s library to make it accessible while closed to the public due to COVID-19.
“We are a small library, without much space for social distancing,” Johson said. “Our library patrons come from rural areas and in town. When we are closed due to COVID-19 we would like to be able to offer curbside pickup or delivery in town. We don’t have any way to provide online browsing or check out due to our library currently still using paper cards to check out books, paper library cards, and handwritten inventory. If patrons could access online browsing and check out for our hundreds of books, videos, and books on tape, no one would have to be without entertainment during this pandemic.” 3) Purchase and install a hand washing station and barriers, to allow for closure of public areas of congregation as needed, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The city received the funds on October 13, and it must be expended by December 30, she said.
“We applied for funds in order for the City to better mitigate the spread of COVID-19 for the protection of staff and citizens,” Johnson said. ” We chose projects that we felt would benefit the most citizens and protect our staff at the same time.”