Approved Record of the March 26th, 2020 Proceedings of the Platte County Commissioners in Wheatland, WY – A Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 5:00 P.M.. The meeting was held via Zoom Video Conferencing to avoid congregating people to avoid the spread of the infectious disease COVID-19. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss with County department heads and elected officials their responses to COVID-19 and how to consider continuity of government during the spread of COVID-19. The elected officials present were: Sandy Kontour, Commission Chairman; Steve Shockley, Commissioner; Ian Jolovich, Commissioner; Malcolm Ervin, County Clerk; Kristi Rietz, County Treasurer; Douglas Weaver, County Attorney; Clyde Harris, Sheriff; Danette Eppel, Assessor; and Mona McAuley, Clerk of District Court. Department heads present were: Nicole Sticka, Public Health; Beal Angel, Road & Bridge; Terry Stevenson, Emergency Management; Julie Henion, Library; Mary Evans and Stacy Bucholz, Ag. Extension; Jim DeWitt, Maintenance; Jordan Ham, WyoLogic Inc. (County IT). In the wake of orders from the State of Wyoming to close certain businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all County offices made decisions that would hopefully ensure each department could continue to deliver services while limiting exposure to the public, which could spread the infectious disease. The library and ag. extension buildings were closed to the public after the end of business on March 20th. Staff continue to work remotely, when possible, and the library is delivering materials as they are able. The Road and Bridge Department chose to put their workforce in trucks and limit their contact with one another and instead focus on projects that do not require multiple individuals. The Clerk’s, Treasurer’s, District Court, Sheriff’s, County Attorney and Assessor’s Offices all made the decision to send certain staff members home in order to quarantine to prevent entire offices becoming sick all at once. The decision was made to limit the amount of staff in each office in the interest of continuity of government in the event members from each office became sick. Mr. Stevenson and Mrs. Sticka informed the group of the work that they had been doing to prepare for the virus’ arrival in Platte County. Mr. Stevenson said he was part of a state-wide call every morning learning what each county had done in response to COVID-19. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at approximately 5:48 P.M. Approved: /s/Sandy Kontour, Chairman; Attest: /s/Malcolm Ervin, County Clerk.
