The Jackson County Legislature approved the Joe Runions Emergency Fund Act March 30, 2020 to provide emergency funding proposal to combat the toll of COVID-19 on the community.

To date the Jackson County Legislature has approved $8.5 million in funding for the Act. The funding package provides $2,000,000 to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits. It will be allocated as follows:

• Truman Medical Centers (TMC) or Jackson County Health Department – $1,000,000
• Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and/or smaller municipalities within the County – $500,000
• Jackson County Department of Corrections – $300,000
• Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office – $200,000

N-95 Masks

The County has purchased 90,000 masks on behalf of TMC at a cost of $1.98 each. The first 15,000 of this order was delivered April 20.

The County also purchased 15,000 masks for $29,700 out of a much larger planed order of 150,000.

Somera Road Inc., out of New York City has donated an additional 5,000 KN95 masks to the County. Somera Road Inc., is the new developer of the 300 Wyandotte building and the Lightwell (old City Center Square).

Mask Distribution

Department                                          30,000 Allocation                              

Circuit Court                                                  1,000

Parks+Rec                                                    1,000

Environmental Health                                      200

Assessor                                                          200

Corrections                                                    9,000  

Collections                                                        200                                                   

County (general)                                               200

Prosecutor’s Office                                            100

Public Works                                                     100

Purchasing                                                          60

Sheriff                                                            16,000

Medical Examiner                                            2,000

City of Grandview                                            1,500

City of Greenwood                                             100

City of Raytown                                                  400

City of Buckner                                                   100

City of Sugar Creek                                              50

City of Grain Valley                                             150

City of Blue Springs                                          1,300

City of Lone Jack                                                100

Central Jackson County Fire                             1,000

Jackson County Election Board                         1,400

Truman Medical Center                                    15,000 

Legislative 2 District Churches                           1,200

Eitas                                                                    5,000

Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr., announced temporary emergency housing for COVID-19 positive residents. Read the news release here .                                         

The Runions Act is named for Joe Runions, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives who was diagnosed with the Coronavirus in March of 2020.