Shawnee Co. health officer resigns immediately following county commission's change to health order

SHAWNEE CO., Kan. (KSNT) - Shawnee Co. Health Officer Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino resigned effective immediately on Monday at the Shawnee County Commissioner's virtual meeting.

This comes after the commission approved the officer's health order with two amendments in a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Kevin Cook voting no.

"I cannot continue to serve as the health officer for a board that puts being able to patronize bars and sports venues in front of the health, lives, and well-being of the majority with constituents," Pezzino said.

Pezzino was originally scheduled to end his duties as Health Officer for Shawnee County at the end of the year.

"I really could not accept the situation anymore," Pezzino said. "I think it was for the best for everybody if they find a health officer that can better reflect their vision for how they want to tackle this pandemic."

"I'm having a hard time with this because even the measure that we're taken today, we're going to be criticized from every angle," said County Commissioner Aaron Mays.

The first amendment commissioners made allows bars and restaurants to stay open until 10 p.m., a change from the current 9 p.m. restrictions, to help struggling local businesses.

"When somebody puts their heart, their soul and all their money into a business just to watch it go to... just to sift through their hands, that's painful," said County Commissioner Bill Riphahn.

Kim Foster, general manager of The Bar N' Grill in Topeka, has lost over 65% of her sales since the beginning of the year, she said.

"I know that a lot of my staff is scared that they won't make it for very much longer," Foster said.

However, the extra hour, although appreciated, will not do much, Foster said.

"We understand what they're trying to do, but there are a lot of lives being affected," Foster said. "A lot of small businesses being affected by these orders, and there are some that will not come out of this."

The commissioners said they are looking at ways to create funding to help these struggling businesses.

Additionally, commissioners made an amendment to the order allowing organized adult and youth sports to practice at the mass gathering limit of 10 people, including coaches and trainers.

The updated order goes into effect immediately and can be viewed here.