March 17, 2020 - 6:00 PM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Emergency)

10 306 Meeting of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners March 17 , 2020 6 15 pm The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in emergency session Tuesday , March 17 , 2020 at 6 15 pm in the Commissioners Meeting Room , Johnston County Courthouse Annex , Smithfield , North Carolina The following members were present Present Chairman Ted G Godwin , Vice Chairman Chad M Stewart , Jeffrey P Carver , Larry Wood , Tony Braswell , Patrick E Harris , and RS “ Butch ” Lawter , Jr Absent None Also Present County Manager Rick J Hester , Clerk to the Board Paula G Woodard , Finance Officer and Assistant County Manager J Chad McLamb , County Attorney Jennifer J Slusser , and Paralegal Deputy Clerk to the Board Dana Cuddington Chairman Ted G Godwin called the emergency meeting to order at 6 15 pm for the purposes of receiving updates and taking necessary actions for items related to the COVID - 19 Coronavirus Pandemic Commissioner Butch Lawter offered a prayer 1 Staff Updates Health Director Dr Marilyn Pearson thanked the Board and the County Department Heads that have been working with them over the past few weeks Dr Pearson reported the Health Department has been monitoring travelers for approximately six weeks and at the present , there are two presumed positive cases of COVID - 19 in Johnston County She stated the Health Department is performing multiple tests , but as everyone has heard , there is a delay in getting test kits as well as other resources Dr Pearson stated they have multiple partners including private providers and the hospital also performing tests She noted they are receiving test kits from LabCorp and have been making up their own kits using materials on hand Dr Pearson stated they are currently monitoring over 100 people in the County ; however , most of those people have no symptoms at this time She stated staff will continue to monitor those individuals , talk with them , and give them guidance Dr Pearson continued that they are having daily response team meetings that include the Health Department , Emergency Management , Human Resources Public Information Office , Department of Social Services , Community & Senior Services , the Partnership for Children , and Johnston County Schools in order to keep each other updated She stated the Health Department is participating in daily calls with the hospital and weekly calls with the North Carolina Division of Public Health Dr Pearson noted while they are trying to get information out to the providers as often as possible , that information is often changing by the hour She reported just today the Governor ordered restaurants and bars to close with restaurants only allowed to offer drive through and take out services She stated their Environmental Health Division is waiting on additional guidance regarding that order Dr Pearson reported the biggest issue they are getting questions about deals with testing and testing criteria She explained that due to the lack of resources , the Health Department is not testing individuals without symptoms She stated they are trying to work closely with the private providers to get as much testing done as possible because they know it is likely there are more cases out there , but again resources are limited at this point Dr Pearson offered to answer any questions Upon a question by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , Dr Pearson clarified that the Health Department performed six tests today , but private providers and the hospital are also now performing their own tests Chairman Ted G Godwin asked how long an individual has to be monitored Dr Pearson responded that most of the individuals being monitored are on quarantine , which means they are not having symptoms but were exposed to a positive case She stated the quarantine must last for 14 days Commissioner Tony Braswell spoke on the Governor’s order regarding restaurant closures and asked how that would be monitored or enforced Dr Pearson responded the Health Department continues to provide education to the local restaurants and the Environmental Health Division will be working with them also She stated the Health Department does not have the authority to close restaurants and because it is the Governor’s order , it would most likely be law enforcement dealing with enforcement Page307 March 17 , 2020 – 6 15 pm Continued Commissioner Patrick E Harris asked if the Health Department has the resources it needs for staffing Dr Pearson responded the Health Department has made some adjustments in their schedules in an effort to free up staff to help with the COVID - 19 response The Commissioners and Dr Pearson spoke on the grocery store situation and how some establishments are having difficulties keeping their shelves stocked Dr Pearson encouraged everyone not to panic and support each other during this time Commissioner Jeffrey P Carver commented that the banks are also hearing concerns from citizens and he stated while everyone should always make sure they have food , cash , and gas on hand , there is no need to hoard or panic Upon a question by Commissioner Larry Wood , Dr Pearson stated they are requesting more test kits , but because everyone is trying to get them , they are on backorder She explained how the Health Department can make up their own kits , but noted that ability is dependent on them having the proper supplies Chairman Godwin noted the Emergency Operations Center EOC was officially opened yesterday , but staff has been on - hand throughout the weekend Chairman Godwin stated the Health Department has someone in the EOC every day and a hotline has been established for citizens to call with questions or concerns Chairman Godwin reported a State of Emergency was declared as of Monday , March 16 , 2020 primarily for logistical reasons so the County could gain access to resources at the State and Federal levels The Board thanked Dr Pearson and her staff for their work Emergency Services Director Kevin Hubbard thanked the Board , the County Manager , and the Department Heads for their support to Emergency Services Mr Hubbard stated this is an unprecedented event , and he is personally drawing on the experience of his colleagues in order to make response decisions and he appreciates that guidance Mr Hubbard reported the EOC opened yesterday primarily to establish the hotline for citizens to get questions answered or speak with a representative from the Health Department regarding any concerns He stated since the hotline was established they have received approximately 60 calls and he appreciates the Health Department having a representative on hand Mr Hubbard reported they have been making requests for resources and the State of Emergency declaration will help with that process He explained the resources they have requested are centered on personal protective equipment PPE for EMS and first responders Mr Hubbard stated they have not yet received a response to their request because there is a demand all over the State for those same resources Mr Hubbard continued that earlier today , the State Emergency Management Office issued a statement directing all the local assisted living facilities , daycares , and local Departments of Social Services to look to the local Emergency Management offices for resources so they have updated their request to account for that need He stated priority is being given to medical providers , EMS systems , hospitals , and health departments Mr Hubbard reported they are continually working with the County’s Public Information Office to get as much information out to the public as possible He noted they are also working with 911 - Communications and have established a list of screening questions in an effort to properly protect the first responders and EMS personnel 911 - Communications Director Jason Barbour reported he has been with Johnston County for 31 years and has worked through many events , disasters , and countless tabletop exercises , but the COVID - 19 event has presented them with a lot of unchartered territory Mr Barbour stated in the last 72 hours , they have fielded approximately 20 calls where citizens have answered in the affirmative to the four screening questions Mr Barbour reviewed the screening questions criteria with the Board He stated if the caller answers in the affirmative to any of the screening questions , measures are then taken to minimize exposure at that location At the inquiry of the Commissioners , Mr Hubbard and Mr Barbour reviewed the protocols being followed when answering calls where individuals have responded in the affirmative to any of the screening questions Mr Barbour stated they are taking as many precautionary steps as possible in order to protect the EMS personnel and the first responders Mr Barbour stated they are seeing an uptick in the number of calls coming into 911 At the inquiry of Commissioner Braswell , Mr Hubbard stated staff is working to get information to the press so it can be distributed out to the public He stated there is misinformation out there and staff is looking atPage308 March 17 , 2020 – 6 15 pm Continued ways to better get information to the media Mr Hubbard stated he hopes the hotline will help to eliminate some of the misinformation Commissioner Harris stated he thinks the County has a great team in place who have been involved with many emergencies over the years and he has complete faith and confidence in their response Sheriff Steve Bizzell addressed the Board and stated as always , public safety is the number one priority He stated three weeks ago , the term “ public safety ” in his mind meant Fire , EMS , 911 , Emergency Services and Law Enforcement ; however , in an event such as this , “ public safety ” now includes all other agencies and we are all in this together Sheriff Bizzell stated in the next few weeks if the COVID - 19 situation continues or gets worse , he believes the County will be called on to do things never done before Sheriff Bizzell spoke on the order sent down from the Governor’s Office regarding restaurant closings and mass gatherings , which include limits on attendance at churches and funerals Sheriff Bizzell stated while he is getting those orders from the Governor’s Office , he wants to make it clear that people have to eat and families have to bury their dead Sheriff Bizzell stated he is committed to doing what is necessary for the citizens , and he feels that most people are heeding the warnings to stay away from large gatherings Sheriff Bizzell reported the jail is designed to hold 191 inmates and they currently have 309 with 275 of those onsite He stated the remaining inmates are being housed in Sampson and Wayne Counties Sheriff Bizzell expressed his appreciation to Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Thomas Lock , Chief District Court Judge Jackie Lee , and District Attorney Susan Doyle for working together in an attempt to reduce the jail population by considering plea deals and bond reductions for nonviolent offenders Sheriff Bizzell stated he is hoping and praying the jail will not be affected by COVID - 19 Sheriff Bizzell concluded his remarks by stating he has been truly impressed with the staff that has been working diligently for the citizens of Johnston County 2 Actions by the Board County Manager Rick Hester thanked the staff who has been working together over the last few days responding to the COVID - 19 event He noted meetings have been ongoing and will continue in the coming days and weeks Mr Hester reviewed with the Board various actions that staff is recommending the Commissioners take to allow for flexibility during the COVID - 19 period Mr Hester stated there may be other things staff will need the Board to act on as this event progresses , and future Board meetings may be necessary Upon a motion by Commissioner Chad M Stewart , seconded by Commissioner Patrick E Harris , and carried unanimously , the Board took the following actions as it relates to the COVID - 19 event 1 Authorized the County Manager to make decisions regarding flexible work situations on an as needed basis for day to day operations ; 2 Authorized the County Manager to place restrictions on County employee travel as it relates to their work and position with Johnston County ; 3 Authorized the County Manager to have flexibility with the Personnel Policy , including but not limited to , the use of different types of leave , if needed during the COVID - 19 period ; and 4 Temporarily suspended water cutoffs by the Johnston County Public Utilities Department until April 13 , 2020 and authorized the County Manager to extend if necessary 3 Statement from the County Manager County Manager Rick Hester read the following statement and noted if there are no objections , staff would release the statement to the public immediately following the meeting With our President and Governor asking all of us to do our part to avoid the possible spread of COVID - 19 , were requesting that Johnston County residents use our vast array of online services and information , instead of coming in - person to County facilities if possible Our website has ways to pay online , answers to Frequently Asked Questions , emails to reach all of our departments AND weve set up a hotline to take all of your COVID - 19 questions 919 - 989 - 5400 Our dedicated staff are continuing to work for you and coming up with new ways for you to conveniently conduct business without physically having to go into government buildings Were also daily updating our social media and sharing new information and resources for our residents Page309 March 17 , 2020 – 6 15 pm Continued Chairman Godwin echoed earlier comments that this is an unprecedented event , but he has complete confidence in the County team Chairman Godwin stated he hopes the citizens will have that same confidence so we can all work together and get through this difficult time There being no further business , Commissioner Chad M Stewart moved the Board adjourn Commissioner Butch Lawter seconded the motion , which carried by unanimous vote The meeting adjourned at 6 55 pm Ted G Godwin , Chairman Paula G Woodard , Clerk to the BoardPage