2020-04-02 BOCC Wrap-Up COVID-19BOCC Wrap-Up / COVID-19
April 2, 2020
4:01 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper (remotely), Commissioner Fund (remotely), Commissioner Jackson,
County Manager Erik Martin, Becky Butler, John Abplanalp, Dr. Rachel Wood, Amber Smith (remotely),
Lara McRea (remotely), Candy Hallom, Steve Walton (remotely), Jonathan Meyer (remotely), Daleyn
Coleman (remotely)
Guests: Matt Matayoshi, Dr. Lindsey Pollock (remotely), various members of the public and press
Recorder: Rieva Lester
John Abplanalp said Lewis County still has 12 confirmed cases. He provided details about the 12 Lewis
County cases as compared to those statewide.
Commissioner Fund directed John Abplanalp to alert the commissioners any time there is a new case.
John said Public Health and Social Services is not monitoring people daily. He said 40 percent of Lewis
County’s COVID-19 patients required hospitalization.
Becky Butler said the county is working on funding sources for supplies. She said the county is applying
for FEMA and state Department of Health funding.
Dr. Wood discussed a region- and statewide effort to address ventilator needs and bed access.
Erik Martin recommended the commissioners extend their building closure through April 17. He noted
that the governor may be extending his Stay Home – Stay Healthy order.
Commissioner Fund made a motion to extend the closure of county offices through April 17.
Commissioner Stamper seconded.
Motion passed 3-0.
Erik Martin said the federal Family First Corona Virus Response Act took effect April 2, 2020. He said he
is recommending a sunset date for the county closure provision of the County Policy.
Steve Walton said employees have donated 1,700 hours of vacation / sick time to the COVID-19
donation pool.
Jonathan Meyer said offices and departments have expressed concerns with the compensatory time for
hourly mission-critical employees.
The commissioners said they support sunsetting Section 8 of the county policy at the end of April 3.
Dr. Rachel Wood discussed medical reserve corps and surge capacity. She and the group discussed
quarantine and isolation plans.
The commissioners discussed their calendars.
The commissioners agreed to hold COVID-19 updates at 2:30 p.m. daily.
Amber Smith said the commissioners need to restrict their meetings to necessary and routine matters or
COVID-19 matters. She said updates about other matters must be tabled until after the Stay Home –
Stay Healthy order ends.
Matt Matayoshi discussed a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), which can go through the
Community Action Council (CAC) or Economic Development Council (EDC). Commissioner Fund noted
that Erik Martin sits on the CAC.
Matt said he attended a conference call earlier in the day and that the commercial real estate industry is
optimistic about when the county will come out of the current recession, noting that some are
forecasting a fourth-quarter rebound.
Commissioner Fund said the draft EIS webinar is planned for April 2.
Meeting adjourned at 5:09 p.m.