The Guthrie Center City Council discussed payroll procedures relating to COVID-19 during their recent meeting Monday.

The Council deliberated on how long they should pay employees who have been in quarantine due to COVID-19, as two employees recently tested positive. A concern was raised from one of the employees who has to stay home as their children’s quarantine period is longer than the employee’s. The Council decided from now on to continue paying City employees until they are all cleared to come back to work. The Council also discussed social distancing protocols. It was debated whether masks can be required for employees, but Public Works Director Bob Secoy said he believes masks need to be greater enforced as well as social distancing.

In other business, the Council discussed a cow incident that occurred near Guthrie Center Elementary on November 14th. Mayor Mike Herbert told the Council that he was informed after the item was put on the agenda that the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office had passed the incident onto the County Attorney to determine whether charges would be filed. Regardless, the Council decided that they would charge the resident for expenses of a fire truck and two City employees who assisted in cleaning up a City street after a loose cow was killed.