By appointment only

Look for Jay County government to begin the transition to a “new normal” next week.

County offices will be open regular hours, but business will be by appointment only, and masks should be worn.

Jay County Commissioners Chuck Huffman, Chad Aker and Mike Leonhard met in special session Friday afternoon in the wake of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s press conference about state plans to ease restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Obviously the main reason we’re here today is to consider action due to the governor’s guidelines today,” said Huffman.

“We’re still all in the process of trying to digest what the governor said.”

Holcomb outlined a series of stages of re-opening public life between Monday and July 4. (See related story.)

“The governor’s stages seemed to be a little bit more aggressive than we expected,” said Huffman.

“We need to keep an eye on the local numbers,” Jay County Health Department environmentalist and administrator Heath Butz told commissioners. “If we follow the governor’s orders, I think that would be adequate. … There’s definitely some lightening in the restrictions from the governor’s office.”

Butz stressed that individual behavior is the key to reducing transmission of the coronavirus. Wearing masks when in public, maintaining social distancing and regular attention to washing hands are essential, he said.

“If we all are wearing masks, we’re all protecting each other,” said Butz.

He noted that Jay County currently has 17 positive cases of COVID-19. Of those, seven have met the Centers for Disease Control’s requirements to be released from isolation. The health department is still working with the contacts those individuals may have had that could have resulted in further transmission.

Getting county offices back up to speed is going to require another special meeting by the commissioners, this one set for 8 a.m. Monday in the courthouse auditorium.

“What we’re thinking is to go back to everybody working regular shifts,” said Huffman. “But we’re not open to the public except by appointment. … We’d try to do that with a day’s notice.”

County attorney Bill Hinkle will prepare an ordinance returning the county to its normal business day, and that is expected to be approved by the commissioners Monday.

“The guidance (from the state) to county and local government is that we can make our own decisions” within the CDC’s guidelines, said Hinkle.

“It should be a very quick meeting,” said Huffman.

In advance of that meeting, elected officials and department heads will be asked to have all of their staffs return to work Monday.

Aker noted that he had been in contact with Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley and the county has been provided by a supply of masks made by local volunteers.

“If we need more, we can get more,” said Aker, thanking Gulley for his support.

Huffman added, “I think we want to require people coming in (to the courthouse or other county offices) to wear masks (or other face coverings) at this stage.”

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved spending $2,100 with All Star Wiring of Fort Wayne to install phone and internet wiring in the courthouse auditorium so that the county clerk’s office can relocate there during a remodeling project.

•Approved paying a $1,000 deductible for roof repairs at Jay County Jail, with insurance covering $1,365. Huffman noted that the repairs need to be made, but he voted against the item because only one quote for repairs had been secured and Sheriff Dwane Ford did not attend the meeting to review the figures.

•Approved polling places for the primary election as recommended by Jay County Election Board.