COVID focused

COVID-19 dominated the agenda Monday for Jay County Commissioners.

Meeting in the courthouse auditorium and seated far apart, commissioners:

•Heard an update on the status of the pandemic locally.

•Learned Jay County Retirement Center is on lockdown.

•Approved a new system of making county deposits at a time when access to banks is limited.

•Declared a travel advisory.

•Approved allowing county employees to work from home.

•Approved an emergency paid sick leave policy and an emergency family medical leave expansion to come into compliance with the Coronavirus Response Act passed by Congress.

•Approved a pandemic emergency closing policy.

“I don’t have any reports of positive tests here in Jay,” county health department administrator/environmentalist Heath Butz told commissioners. “Hopefully, it does stay that way.”

Butz noted that some county residents have been tested for the coronavirus.

“For us,” said emergency management director Jessica Ooten, “it’s just a watch and wait game now.”

John McFarland of Jay Emergency Medical Service said 911 dispatchers have been doing “an excellent job of pre-screening” so that JEMS crews will know what they are dealing with when sent runs for a respiratory ailment. “We’re not sending first responders on anything that’s not life-threatening,” said McFarland.

Ooten noted that the health department, emergency management, JEMS and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security have been collaborating in their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“They’re working very well together,” she said. “It’s an interesting working relationship.”

No visitors are now allowed at the retirement center, and residents are not going out unless for an emergency medical situation, director Hope Confer told commissioners.

“We have locked down the facility,” she said. “We’re watching all the residents, and so far everybody’s fine.”

One retirement center employee is ill and has been placed on a 14-day self-quarantine.

The retirement center, Butz added, “has been ahead of the curve.”

New policies approved on emergency paid sick leave and emergency family medical leave were unanimously approved to meet new federal standards.

“It follows the Coronavirus Response Act,” said county attorney Bill Hinkle.

Under the emergency sick pay policy, full-time county employees who miss work because of COVID-19 symptoms or diagnosis will receive up to 80 hours of paid sick leave. The policy also covers those who must care for a child if the child’s school or place of care has been closed.

The expansion of family medical leave provides for up to 12 weeks of leave for county employees unable to work because of illness or the need to care for a child when schools have been closed because of a public health emergency.

Commissioners approved a travel advisory at Ooten’s recommendation. The advisory is intended to improve public awareness that resident should be staying home unless they are going to work or handling essential tasks such as buying food.

While Jay County Commissioners have not yet declared an emergency closing of county offices because of the pandemic, that could change shortly as a result of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s “Stay at Home” order Monday.

Offices and departments considered essential would stay open even if an emergency order was required. Those discussed by commissioners as essential include the auditor’s office, JEMS, emergency management, Jay County Sheriff’s Office, the health department and the retirement center. Others that might be considered as essential under certain circumstances are the country treasurer’s office, Jay County Coroner and the county highway department.

Local banking changes have made it difficult for the county to follow the state’s normal procedure for timely deposits. Under an ordinance approved by commissioners Monday, funds will go to the auditor’s office which will then make deposits either daily or on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the event that event that is not possible, the auditor will work with the treasurer’s office to make deposits remotely.

“We can go old school if we have to,” said county auditor Anna Culy.

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved the February report from the retirement center.

•Noted that a planned discussion of a request that the county be declared a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” will be deferred until after the health emergency has subsided.

•Learned that an emergency medical services class being taught by McFarland has moved to online and is expected to finish on time.

•Noted that the primary election has been moved to June 2.

•Acknowledged that penalties are being waived for some late property taxes but said they hope most property owners will pay their taxes by the May 10 deadline. “The more who pay property taxes on time, the better for the county,” said commissioner president Chuck Huffman. “We should encourage that.”

•Streamlined the city-county flood task force to just three members — Portland Mayor John Boggs, Barry Hudson and John Moore — to facilitate its discussions with the Army Corps of Engineers.