Walhalla to offer financial help

To help Walhallans cope with the impact of COVID-19, the city government will offer financial help. The city council last night authorized $300 grants for businesses struggling with the financial consequences of the virus as well as recommended a $100 dollar pay raise for city workers. That pay boost would be considered hazardous pay for the city employees and will be paid for up to eight weeks, unless the virus spread ends earlier. The recommendation is subject to approval at the next city council meeting. Up and down Walhalla’s main corridor businesses are hurting, according to Councilman Josh Roberts who took a walk along Main Street. To receive a $300 dollar grant, a business must apply at City Hall. The money will come from the account of the city’s Downtown Development Corporation. Both Roberts and Councilman Dennis Owens believe that considering the pressures on the businesses, $300 dollars is not enough. They and the rest of the council agreed with a suggestion by Mayor Danny Edwards to proceed with the $300 dollar grants for now and over the next two weeks investigate the extent to which the city could offer more, for instance, as much as $500 dollars.