Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: TBD

Business Meeting: June 15, 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, county offices and departments continue to provide essential services through alternative means, such as online, by phone, through the mail and via email; and

WHEREAS, in response to the dangers associated with COVID-19, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) used the emergency powers vested under RCW 38.52 – which allows the use of extraordinary measures for the preservation of public health and to relieve loss, hardship and suffering – to pass Resolution 20-101 on March 18, 2020, adjusting county operations and closing county buildings to public access through April 3, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the BOCC extended the building closures through May 4, 2020, via Resolution 20-123 and then further extended the building closures through May 31, 2020, via Resolution 20-147; and

WHEREAS, Washington Governor Jay Inslee has outlined a four-phase “Safe Start” approach to reopening recreational, social and business activities (“Washington’s Phased Approach – Reopening Business and Modifying Physical Distancing Measures”); and

WHEREAS, the Safe Start guidelines indicate that Washington’s counties must meet specific criteria – and must stay in each phase for at least three weeks – before advancing to a subsequent phase; and

WHEREAS, on May 22, 2020, Lewis County was granted a variance to move to from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of Safe Start; and

WHEREAS, “customer-facing government services” are allowed under Phase 3 of the Safe Start approach; 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, on June 12, 2020, Lewis County submitted to the state its proposal to move from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of Safe Start.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the BOCC that the following policies related to county facilities shall take effect at 5 p.m. June 15, 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 will continue to make independent decisions concerning the operations of the Law and Justice Center and the Juvenile Court building, and the Coroner will continue to make independent decisions concerning the operations of the Coroner’s Office.
3. The closures discussed herein shall be in effect through June 22, 2020, unless otherwise announced by the Board of County Commissioners.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 15th day of June, 2020.