By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph City Council approved the second allocation of CARES Act funding Monday to assist those in the city hit hardest by COVID-19.
The council approved an amount of just under $370,000 to address the economic, housing and non-housing needs of low-income residents hit hardest by the pandemic.
This money will be used for rent, mortgage and utility assistance to be administered by local social service agencies, primarily CAP St. Joseph, who’s fielded hundreds of calls per day during the pandemic from people in need of rental assistance.
The council also appointed Bryan Carter as Interim City Manager until a contract with a new City Manager becomes effective.
Mayor Bill McMurray hopes to have a new, full-time city manager by late-May or early June.
COVID-19 vaccine update
Elsehwere in Monday's meeting, St. Joseph’s Director of Health, Debra Bradley, says there are restrictions at the state level that hinder vaccination efforts in communities like St. Joseph.
“We had requested 500 doses to be received this week and we’re only going to get 200 doses, so they’re cutting back peoples requests," Bradley said. "I know there are some areas in Northwest Missouri that their entire request was denied."
Bradley says they're trying to push the vaccine out as fast as possible.
Mosaic Life Care currently has enough vaccine for about 150 people per day. Those eligible to receive the shot includes anyone age 65 or older and adults with underlying health conditions.