Commissioners Strategically Declare Emergency

by Rachel Dahl -- In order to take advantage of any potential emergency funds that may become available in light of the COVID-19 situation, Churchill County Commissioners passed a “Declaration of Emergency” resolution in a meeting this afternoon. The resolution states that the county is closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus that is spreading through U.S. communities, and have determined that “emergency conditions prevail and threatens the health, life, safety, and welfare of persons due to the immediate threat of the spread” of the virus. County manager Jim Barbee provided a current report from the State Department of Health that so far in Churchill County there have been 12 tests administered, 11 of those have come back negative, and one test is still pending results. Chairman Pete Olsen stated that the declaration of emergency is being taken “in the event that there is to be any funding available from the federal government we have to declare an emergency, the clock doesn’t start ticking until we make the declaration.” County leadership decided last week, in order to bring down the potential number of exposures, to limit the number of employees working in the public. They have been scaling back the number of employees who are working in the offices, essentially running what Olsen calls “a skeleton crew.” Commissioner Bus Scharmann added that as the commissioner who sits on the Hospital Board, he has been in contact with Banner Churchill Hospital regarding their procedure for screening and testing for the COVID-19 virus. “They can screen people in their car if they call ahead, if they come in they will isolate them and test them. If they are visibly sick, they will be quarantined at the hospital to test and then will be sent home to self-quarantine,” he said. Scharmann also stated that the hospital is only allowing one visitor at a time to visit patients who are currently in the hospital, and he feels they are taking several different precautions. “They, along with every other entity in the county, is doing their job,” said Scharmann.       Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.