Fellow Residents:
I hope this finds everyone well, safe and healthy as Spring blossoms across our City.
I was on a walk earlier this week and thought back to the Chiefs run through the playoffs. For those who watched the game versus the Texans, think back to the moment the Texans kicked a field goal to go up 24-0. I was with my younger son and we were both down, but neither of us had given up.
Those same feelings and thoughts apply today (and please know, I am not trivializing this situation). The Chiefs were behind; they were being beaten on all sides. And then the tide turned.
Patrick Mahomes said at that moment:
“Let’s do something special. Let’s do something special.”
Well, special happened. The team rallied and we all know the rest of the story. That lesson is applicable today.
Four mid-week updates on this theme:
1) Johnson County needs our help. They have issued a public health survey to better understand and model the COVID-19 spread in our community. You and your family can help by filling it out at the link below. The more responses, the better the model and the better we can fight back against the virus. Please consider taking part. The deadline to participate is 10am on Friday, April 10th:
https://www.jocogov.org/article/2020/04/07/13145
2) The Murray Model from the University of Washington is generally regarded as one of the best analytical models of the virus’ spread and other data. It goes to the State level. As I referenced in an earlier post, Kansas seems to have flattened the curve, but we MUST continue to follow the Stay-at-Home Order and its guidelines. The model can be found here:
https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/kansas
3) You cannot miss that we have so many more walkers and bicyclists in our City right now, at all times of the day. I would ask that everyone please help each other as follows:
- If you are a driver, give space and please observe our speed limits.
- If you are a walker/runner, please use the left side of the road, moving against traffic.
- If you are a bicyclist, please use the right side of the road, moving with traffic.
- If you have young people in your house, please pass this message on to them!
4) We received improved guidance for virtual public meetings, so ALL Boards will resume “regular” meetings in May (either live or virtually, depending on the circumstances).
- As a reminder, the City Council meets this Monday, April 13th at 6:30pm.
- Full details for all meetings can be found at the City’s website: www.missionhillsks.gov.
I continue to communicate with the City’s police and fire chiefs multiple times per week, and their emergency plans continue to function well.
Let me finish by returning to my theme.
We are middle of the three-week of a Stay-at-Home Order. If you watch enough national news, the images are stark, saddening and frightening. But if we believe, and importantly take the right actions, something special can, and will, happen.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call City Hall at 913-362-9620 or info@missionhillsks.gov, or email me directly at mayor@missionhillsks.gov.
Believe. Be healthy. Be smart. Thank you.