2020-05-07 BOCC Wrap Up COVID-19BOCC Wrap-Up / COVID-19 Meeting
May 7, 2020
3 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Stamper (remotely), Commissioner Fund, County Manager Erik Martin, Doug
Carey, Amber Smith (remotely), Alison Puckett (remotely), Lee Napier (remotely), Tamara Hayes
(remotely)
Guests: Bryan Porter (remotely), Dr. Lindsey Pollock (remotely), Larry McGee (remotely)
Recorder: Rieva Lester
County Manager Erik Martin said the county has learned that it now has 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases,
three of which were fatalities.
Erik Martin said the governor has deemed 10 counties eligible to apply for a variance. He said those
counties had zero new cases in the past three weeks.
Erik said a draft of Lewis County’s variance application will be available May 8. Commissioner Stamper
said he’d like the county to apply for the variance as soon as possible.
Erik discussed the response component of the variance, noting that the county will need to have a
number of MOUs in place.
Commissioner Stamper asked Commissioner Fund to represent Lewis County during a Monday WSAC
call regarding counties eligible or potentially eligible to apply for a variance.
Erik discussed supply orders being placed. He said the courts will require visitors to wear masks, so an
abundance of masks have been ordered.
Erik said he is going to ask that questions regarding Public Health consultations be filtered through JP
Anderson instead of going directly to Dr. Rachel Wood.
Erik said the county is taking a measured approach to preparing offices and departments for an eventual
reopening.
Erik said he and Becky Butler are working on policies to address requests and funding linked to CARES
Act funding. He said he expects to hear more details about the CARES funding the following week.
Erik said the county will need MOUs to address contact tracing and case management resources in order
to apply for the variance. Amber Smith said she and JP Anderson are drafting the needed MOUs.
Commissioner Stamper asked whether patients’ zip codes can be shared.
Commissioner Fund said JP Anderson has indicated there are 13 ventilators available in Lewis County.
Commissioner Stamper said he joined a multi-county coalition to address Gov. Inslee’s response
regarding the pandemic.
Commissioner Stamper and Commissioner Fund indicated they support including Lewis County on the
group letter to Gov. Inslee. Rieva Lester noted that although he was unable to attend the meeting,
Commissioner Jackson had indicated he was in support of the letter.
The commissioners directed Rieva Lester to contact the coalition to have Lewis County listed on the
letter.
Meeting adjourned at 3:33 p.m.