Richand County Commissioners Resolution Setting Department Closures and Operational Changes During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Apr 01, 20200

RESOLUTION NO. 2020-08

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF Richland County, Montana, ADDRESSING OFFICE HOURS AND PHYSICAL OPERATION OF COUNTY OFFICES DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Richland County, Montana, is empowered pursuant to 7-1-125 and 7-4-2110, M.C.A. to adopt resolutions governing office hours and operation of the county offices;

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 Virus poses a substantial risk to county employees who interact with the public daily and the Board of County Commissioners has the right to implement resolutions protecting county employees and the public;

WHEREAS, recognizing that pursuant to 7-4-2211, M.C.A., the sheriff, the county clerk, the clerk of the district court, the treasurer, the county attorney, the county auditor in counties in which that officer is maintained, and the county assessor shall keep their offices open for the transaction of business during the office hours determined by the governing body by resolution after a public hearing and only if consented to by any affected elected county officer, every day in the year except legal holidays and Saturdays;

WHEREAS, Governor Steve Bullock issued a Directive requiring Montanans to stay home and temporarily close all nonessential businesses and operations to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The order, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 28, 2020, will buy time for health care workers on the frontlines and seeks to limit long term impacts to the state’s economy; and

WHEREAS, the Richland Board of County Commissioners have determined it is in the best interests of Richland County to adopt a resolution addressing the office hours and physical operations of certain county offices and authorizing elected officials to regulate their office hours and physical operations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF Richland County, Montana, THAT THE Richland County OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS ARE DIRECTED AND AUTHORIZED AS FOLLOWS TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO OFFICE HOURS AND PHYSICAL OPERATIONS OF THOSE OFFICES:

Section 1. The Board of County Commissioners of Richland County, Montana, hereby directs all elected offices, which are considered essential services, open regular county business hours under the following:

a. Doors will be locked for appointment only by calling in. County offices will post signs on their doors with their respective phone numbers listed;

b. Elected officials will decide how many employees work and when;

c. For those employees not coming in each employee gets 80 hours of COVID-19 hours. If elected officials are limiting staff, each elected official will track each employee’s COVID-19 time; and

d. The Superintendent of Schools works limited hours shall be by appointment only.

Section 2. The Board of County Commissioners of Richland County, Montana, further hereby directs that the following offices who are considered essential services (excepting the County Weed District and civil attorney employed by the Richland County Commissioners which are considered non-essential) shall operate as follows:

a. Public Works shall lock its gates and shall post its phone number for the public to call. Public Works employees will work normal county hours.

b. The Public Landfill will remain open. However, the Director of Public Works is authorized to set guidelines for employees regarding hours and physical operation of the Public Landfill;

c. The Weed District will be closed to the public; however, Weed District employees shall be allowed to conduct any necessary maintenance of property (The Weed District is not considered essential services at this time);

d. The civil attorney employed by the Richland County Commissioners shall be allowed to work from home or in the office with the door locked and shall post the number for the public to call (said position is considered non-essential services);

e. Disaster and Emergency Services will remain open; however, doors shall be locked and the department shall post its phone number for the public to make appointments;

f. The Health Department shall remain open; however, doors shall be locked and the department shall post its phone number for the public to make appointments. The Director of the Health Department shall have authority to send non-essential staff home or allow them to work from home. Additionally, the Director shall direct, monitor, and track time for certain employees allowed to utilize the COVID-19 time;

g. The Transportation Department shall remain open; however, the doors shall be locked and shall post its number for the public to make appointments. The Director of the Transportation Department is authorized to set guidelines for employees and the operation of that department; and

h. The Maintenance Department employees are considered essential and will continue with their regularly assigned duties as well as increased sanitization of county buildings.

Section 3. The Board of County Commissioners of Richland County, Montana, further hereby directs that the following offices which are considered non-essential services shall be closed:

a. Richland County Extension Office;

b. Mondak Heritage Center;

c. Richland County Library;

d. Richland County Fair Office;

e. Richland County Safety Coordinator; and

f. Richland County IT Department (except that said employees shall be on-call)

Section 4. This resolution shall be effective 12:01 a.m., March 2020 through 11:59 p.m., April 10, 2020.

PASSED and ADOPTED this 27th day of March, 2020.

AYES: 3

NOES: 0

ABSTAINING: 0

ABSENT:0