Adjusting County operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ADJUSTING COUNTY OPERATIONS RESOLUTION 20-101
DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
WHEREAS, Lewis County is committed to sustaining the highest possible level of services for
citizens while keeping the public and county employees safe during the COVID-19 event; and
WHEREAS, many county offices and departments can provide essential services through web
services, email and telephone without having their doors open to the public; and
WHEREAS, Lewis County has launched a website (https://lewiscountywa.gov/homeservices/) that
lists the many services the various county departments and elected offices provide online, by
mail and by phone; and
WHEREAS, on February 29, 2020, Gov. Jay Inslee declared Washington State to be in a state of
emergency due to the existence of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus epidemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-
19 to be a pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, Gov. Inslee announced a statewide shutdown of restaurants,
bars, nail salons and theaters, among other events, as well as a ban on gatherings of 50 or more
attendees; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, the BOCC declared a state of emergency in Lewis County in
response to the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Lewis County; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the Board reaffirmed its declaration of a state of emergency in
Lewis County; and
WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recognizes the importance
of limiting 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, Chapter 38.52 RCW 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 protect the
public and county employees from further transmission of COVID-19 in Lewis County; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the BOCC that the following policies related to county
facilities shall take effect at 5 p.m. March 18, 2020:
1. All county facilities and buildings will be 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 BOCC will cancel its legislative meetings (the "BOCC Business Meeting") planned
for March 23 and March 30, 2020.
3. 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.
4. The closures discussed herein shall be in effect through Friday, April 3, 2020, unless
otherwise announced by the Board of County Commissioners.
Done in emergency session under RCW 42.30.070 this 18th day of March 2020.
APPROVED AS TO FORM: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LEWIS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Jonathan yer, roses ing Attorney Gary Stam4r, air
ATTEST: Edna J. F d, Vic hair
dt.„
Rieva Lester, Clerk of the Board o e . Jackson, Commissioner
••CO‘}T41-Y, 1{.••
to r• •
•N 1-:
•
•• CO.. .f� . GTON'S•;•.
•••.•••