Category: Opinions

Help offered from various sources for businesses, individuals

Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

The bad news is that these are uncertain times for businesses. The good news is there are many resources for those who have lost business because of the coronavirus pandemic.

That was quite obvious as I had a recent extended convention with Greg Kindle, the president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. Various areas in Wyandotte County are being hit hard including retail portions of Village West including Nebraska Furniture Mart and Legends Outlet, which are closed.

Kindle said the Small Business Administration is offering help at the website www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources. Among those resources are Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which includes a $10,000 grant that does not have to be repaid, Express Bridge Loans and the Payroll Protection Program. It is best for a business representative to contact his or her banker to apply for the latter two loans.

Kindle said the Kansas Department of Commerce has launched a live chat to help fill out its COVID-19 webpage. Additional resources can be found at www.wyedc.org/covid-19-resources/.

Kindle said it will be important to find jobs for those who have been displaced. Since the coronavirus scare, the unemployment rate for Wyandotte County has jumped from about 4 percent to more than 10 percent.

I chatted by telephone with restaurant owners who are Business West owners. Loraine Waldeck, who owns MeMa’s Old Fashioned Bakery, 7634 Leavenworth Road, said all things considered, she is doing quite well. What helps MeMa’s is her wholesale commercial accounts including two grocery stores and her carryout customers.

Cassandra Savage, who with her husband Ken own nine McDonald’s restaurants in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, have been hurt by the pandemic, but have been depending on carryout and delivery. Their most profitable store has been and continues to be at 7530 State Ave. She said her company has more than 400 employees and her accountant is busy applying for the Paycheck Protect Program. The couple is rebuilding its store at 4101 Kansas Ave.

The Dotte Spot Bar and Grill at 8123 Parallel Parkway in the Arrowhead Center has closed its dining room and bar, but is continuing to offer a carryout menu.

Donna Tilden, who serves as president of Business West, is a licensed health and life insurance agent. She offers the attachment “COVID-19” Resources to explain what is covered.

Melissa Brune Bynum, the president-elect of Business West and a Unified Government commissioner, offers a resource attachment.

Kathleen Meyers Baska, the owner of Mary Butler Meyers Family Funeral Home, said a message from R. Bryant Hightower, the president of the National Funeral Directors Association, speaks to the need for the funeral home staff and clergy to protect the health of the attendees by limiting those to 10 persons attending the funeral. Further details can be found at the website https://www.marybutlermeyers.com/.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Insurance provider websites are addressing how they are handling the COVID-19 situation. Members may click on the links to find out how each carrier is providing no-cost care related to COVID-19, telemedicine appointments, premium payments and more.

Individual health plans:
Ambetter – https://ambetter.sunflowerhealthplan.com/coronavirus.html
Cigna – https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus
Medica – https://medica.com/corp/covid-19
Oscar – https://www.hioscar.com/covid19

Medicare plans:
Aetna – https://www.aetna.com/individuals-families/member-rights-resources/need-to-know-coronavirus.html
BCBSKS – https://www.bluekc.com/consumer/covid-19.html
Cigna – https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus/medicare-and-medicaid
Humana – https://www.humana.com/coronavirus
United Health Care – https://www.uhc.com/health-and-wellness/health-topics/covid-19

Group health insurers:
BCBSKC – https://www.bluekc.com/consumer/covid-19.html
Cigna – https://www.cigna.com/coronavirus/employers
Humana – https://www.humana.com/coronavirus
United Health Care – https://www.uhc.com/health-and-wellness/health-topics/covid-19

  • Insurance list from Donna Tilden, Benefits Design Group
A resource list from the Unified Government Health Department and United Way of Wyandotte County listed resources as of March 31, with some services and information subject to change.

Letter to the community from BPU general manager

Bill Johnson

Over the past few weeks, as our city, county, and state worked to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities has taken many proactive steps to protect our customers and employees.

BPU will continue working to ensure the delivery of reliable energy and clean drinking water to our community, as it has for more than 100 years. Our employees understand what is required of us in being deemed an essential service provider. Electricity and water are critical public infrastructure services that support life and are vital to sustaining any community.

We understand that it might take some time for our community to fully recover from this pandemic event. Regardless, we will be here to assist our customers and the community in any way we can. Please keep your BPU employees in mind during this period, knowing that they are working across our city to keep our utilities operational.

I am confident that we can work our way through these unchartered waters, and know that my thoughts and prayers are with all of those impacted directly or indirectly by this crisis. Like other challenges in the past, our utility and community will get through working together and helping one another.

BPU would like to thank other public and private institutions for their efforts in supporting Wyandotte County and the Greater Kansas City area.

As we continue to try to reverse the effects of this pandemic, KCBPU and its dedicated staff will continue to be here working with other public service providers and first responders.

Please look for updated news releases and other updates through a variety of media outlets as we attempt to keep you informed. Be safe and follow the recommendations of our medical professionals.

Thank you,

William A. Johnson, general manager
Board of Public Utilities, Kansas City, Kansas

Column: Hoping not to run out of a necessity

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

A few more short takes while I hope I don’t run out of toilet paper.

I didn’t realize it, but a smart aleck quip from late night host Johnny Carson in 1973 caused a run on toilet paper. He later apologized for the remark. The run wasn’t anything like it is today, however.

This is a strange time—something that I haven’t experienced. I’ve seen floods, tornados, civil disorders and the flu, but nothing quite like the coronavirus.

The word corona, according to the online Free Dictionary, is defined as “a halo appearing to surround a celestial body.” It is also a Mexican beer—which has suspended production. Wonder why?

When will the worst of the coronavirus hit Kansas? No one knows exactly when and how severe. However, Dr. Lee Norman, the secretary of Kansas Health and Environment, estimates the peak of the disease could hit here in late April and last for about a couple of weeks.

The problem is that there is no vaccine for the disease. Epidemiologists across the country, particularly at Emory University in Atlanta, are working day and night to find a cure and are making remarkable progress. However, until the vaccine is found, the outbreak will not be overcome in a grand scale. In the meantime, it is important to wash your hands, keep your distance and stay at home as much as possible.

A friend who is executive editor of The Wall Street Journal, Jerry Seib, recently commented on stimulus spending. After Congress passed a $2 trillion measure, Nancy Pelosi is talking about spending even more. Jerry questions whether the country can afford it. He also appeared on Fox News with the same message.

I listened in on a teleconference last Friday afternoon that State Rep. Ron Ryckman of Olathe and other Republican legislative leaders convened. Rep. Ryckman is Speaker of the Kansas House. This was the second of such recent conferences. The first teleconference was all Republicans. The second one had a more bipartisan flavor as Gov. Laura Kelly was one of the presenters. Much of the conversation dealt with what the state is doing to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and to help small business.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.