Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

County to add temporary paramedic; allots $50k in discretionary funds

COLUMBUS—The Polk County Board of Commissioners took several actions this week in the wake of the Coronavirus. 

Commissioners declared a state of emergency effective Monday morning at 8 a.m., then limited people to under 50 attendees at its meeting Monday night, checking everyone’s temperature prior to entering the meeting room. No one was sent home. 

During Monday night’s meeting, which only contained three residents, commissioners allocated $75,000 in funding for unknown Coronavirus issues as well as hiring two paramedics temporarily specifically for potential virus patients. 

Polk County Manager Marche Pittman said this is a quickly evolving situation and emergency personnel and healthcare providers are in constant communication. 

Commissioners allocated $25,000 to hire two paramedics to respond to potential Coronavirus cases. As of now, when someone calls 911, a series of questions will be asked and if there are certain answers, the fire department or first responders will not respond. An ambulance will be sent to all emergencies, however. Commissioners were clear on that point Monday night that all emergencies will be responded to. 

“Our anticipation is to only use one ambulance for these kinds of calls,” Polk County Emergency Management Director Bobby Arledge said. 

The temporary paramedics will be on staff to respond with a truck, Pittman said. The county already has a truck that will be equipped with supplies and if needed an ambulance will be dispatched. The county plans to have the paramedics employed for the next three months at least and will evaluate later. They will work 12-hour shifts, with EMS director Michael Crater determining which 12 hours are the most needed. 

The other $50,000 was transferred from fund balance to the county manager’s discretionary fund just in case something is needed quickly. Pittman said he will let commissioners immediately know if money is spent and for what. 

Pittman thanked St. Luke’s Hospital and employees for the cooperation over the last several weeks and planning to protect county residents and employees. 

The county has also opened up an emergency operations center at the emergency management office. The center will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. as of now. 

Arledge urged all residents to sign up to Nixle to keep up to date with alerts. People can text polknc to 888777 to sign up for Nixle alerts. 

Commissioners also approved two resolutions Monday night concerning the virus. 

 

RESOLUTION ~ POLK COUNTY

Covid19 Virus ~ Emergency Response Authority

WHEREAS, the Polk County Board of Commissioners desires to protect the heath, well-being, comfort and working environment of its employees and the general public; and

WHEREAS, in order to comply with and follow recommendations of federal, state and local authorities and experts in responding to the Covid19 crisis, the Board of Commissioners recognizes the critical need for the County’s ability to be agile in its response; and

WHEREAS, the consensus of the Board of Commissioners is to authorize Polk County Manager to make necessary determinations regarding emergency action planning, county operations, staff support, resource allocation, and the ongoing monitoring of recommendations made by state and local officials in order to act accordingly; and

WHEREAS, the Polk County Manager will, with his leadership team, receive the full support of the Polk

County Board of Commissioners in assisting and supporting the County and community members while dealing with this public health crisis.

NOW THEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners hereby amends the policy language in the “Policy Disclaimer” section of the policies to read, “…the County Manager shall have the authority in situations involving federal, state or local emergency, health crisis, or other urgent situations which could potentially affect the health and wellbeing of employees and citizens of Polk County, to change, revoke, interpret or add to any of these policies at any time at his/her sole discretion without prior notice.”

Effective 16th day of March 2020.

 

REMOTE PARTICIPATION POLICY FOR MEETINGS OF THE

POLK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Members of the Polk County Board of Commissioners (Board) may remotely participate in briefings and official meetings of the Board, subject to the following rules and procedures:

1. Remote participation may be used only when there has been a declared state of emergency.
2. Remote participation may be allowed only during open sessions when a quorum of the Board is physically present at the meeting and the Commissioner participating remotely is not necessary to establish a quorum.
3. Remote participation shall not be allowed during the following:
4. Quasi-judicial hearings; and
5. Closed sessions.
6. A Commissioner desiring to participate in a meeting remotely must notify the Clerk to the Board of the need for remote participation and request approval by the Chairman of his/her remote participation at least 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting, unless advance notice is impractical.
7. At the start of the official meeting and prior to participating in deliberations, the Chairman of the Board shall announce that a Commissioner is participating remotely. Such Commissioner shall identify himself or herself and state the reason that he/she is participating remotely.
8. A Commissioner participating remotely shall be allowed to participate in all open session Board briefing discussions and open session official Board meeting discussions with the exception of quasi-judicial hearings. A Commissioner participating remotely shall be able to vote on matters allowed under the policy.
9. A Commissioner participating remotely shall be provided with all documents to be considered during the briefing session and the official meeting.
10. A Commissioner participating remotely shall participate via simultaneous and/or electronic communication and must be fully heard and if possible seen by other members of the Board and any other individuals in attendance at the official meeting. Use of telephone, internet, or satellite enabled audio or video conferencing, or any other technology that enables the remote participant and all persons present at the meeting location to be clearly audible to one another is necessary. If clear audio is not available, the Chairman may elect to disallow or discontinue the remote participation.
11. A Commissioner participating remotely shall provide a voice vote, which can be heard and recorded if participating by telephone and shall provide a voice and hand vote if participating by video.

Adopted this 16 th day of March 2020.