The Guthrie Center City Council approved the first change order for their municipal bathhouse and public restroom project at their meeting Monday.

City Administrator Laura Wolfe informed the Council that the architect and Parks and Recreation Board determined that a $500 lockbox for the exterior of the building was not necessary, so the Council approved the change order for the savings. The City plans to break ground on the $800,000 project after they tear down the current facility sometime after the tentative aquatic center summer closing date of August 9th.

In other Council business, they discussed whether the City needs an employee leave policy in case someone tests positive for COVID-19. Council member Carolyn Masters stated she wanted to discuss the topic so they are prepared in case the situation arises. Wolfe said that the federal CARES Act provides all employees who quarantine for COVID-19 two weeks of paid sick leave, though one of the City’s employees wouldn’t currently be eligible for paid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act due to recently being on maternity leave. Wolfe suggested that the City Hall staff may resume staggering their work schedules as they did earlier in the pandemic to limit person-to-person contact. The Council came to an agreement that they would deal with COVID-19 cases on an individual basis, and keep in contact with Guthrie County Public Health and Emergency Management Agency for the most recent quarantine guidelines and other procedures.