Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: April 8, 2020

Business Meeting: April 13, 2020

Summary:

Extend adjustments made to county operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Publications:

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, Lewis County remains committed to sustaining the highest possible level of services for citizens while keeping the public and county employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, in response to the dangers associated with COVID-19, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution 20-101 on March 18, 2020, adjusting county operations and closing county buildings to public access; and

WHEREAS, in response to the building closures, many of Lewis County's offices and departments have been providing essential services through other means: online, by phone, through the mail and via email; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 20-101 indicated the building closures would last through April 3, 2020, unless otherwise announced by the BOCC; and

WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, the BOCC met in an open public meeting and voted 3-0 to extend the building closures through April 17; and

WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, Gov. Inslee extended Washington’s Stay Home -- Stay Healthy order through May 4, 2020; and; and

WHEREAS, on April 13, 2020, the BOCC extended the local declaration of a state of emergency for 30 days via Resolution 20-122; and

WHEREAS, the BOCC recognizes the importance of continuing to limit the number of people gathered in one building, especially when queues for some services put individuals in close proximity for times greater than 10 to 15 minutes; and

WHEREAS, RCW 38.52 vests emergency powers in the BOCC to take extraordinary measures for the preservation of public health and to relieve loss, hardship and suffering; and

WHEREAS, the severity of the situation demands that the BOCC take measures to continue to protect the public and county employees from further transmission of COVID-19 in Lewis County.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the BOCC that the following policies related to county facilities shall take effect at 5 p.m. April 13, 2020:

1. All county facilities and buildings will remain closed to public access -- with access available only to county employees -- with the exception of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center, the Juvenile Court building and the Coroner’s Office, which will have limited access for the public.
2. The presiding judges may make independent decisions concerning the operations of the Law and Justice Center and the Juvenile Court building, and the Coroner may make independent decisions concerning the operations of the Coroner’s Office.
3. The closures discussed herein shall be in effect through Monday, May 4, 2020, unless otherwise announced by the Board of County Commissioners

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 13th day of April, 2020.