CBJ approves emergency ordinances

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Monday, September 21st, 2020 8:04pm

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Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - CARES dollars will be spent to sample wastewater, help the school district, provide child care and assist local businesses.

The ordinances provide $75,000 to test wastewater for COVID-19.  An upward trend in wastewater could indicate an upward trend in undiagnosed virus spread in the community.

The school system would receive $700,000 to help the district resume education curriculum, provide internet at the homes of students where needed, and help with maintenance and facilities cost.

Another $600,000 will go toward the costs of Rally Childcare for 252 students.  It serves students in kindergarten to fifth grade.

CBJ Manager Rorie Watt said they will spend the money once students start to use the program.

The assembly appropriated $400,000 to construct patient intake and triage at Bartlett Regional Hospital.  This will help the hospital improve the current temporary shelter to help assess patients before they are admitted into the hospital.  Additional work will improve the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems so they can increase the number of isolation rooms and improve air handling systems.  Other changes could include more telemedicine ability.

The small business grant program would get another $2 million but not before further discussion.  It will go to the Finance Committee meeting on September 30.  It would fully fund all the grant applications that have been approved.  Officials said it will also get the money to businesses sooner.  This money comes from the CARES Act.

The manager intends to release 75 percent of the funding so grants can go out on Tuesday.

 

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