[0:04] the best protection over our county of our state over our country over our

[0:17] world Robo just thank you and we argue for all

[0:20] that you're going in and then the wisdom that you're given during this meeting

[0:24] and the thing that you're saying that to us Lord let us take these things Lord

[0:28] and be able to make wise decisions today and everything that we do we just we

[0:32] just plead Psalms 91 over our counting of our citizens and all that are

[0:37] involved in this in Jesus name I pray amen we will officially call the special

[0:45] session of the Swain County Board of Commissioners March 27 nine o'clock we

[0:55] will call on the gunner if he will to step forward and lead us in our players

[1:07] the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation

[1:13] under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all

[1:18] thank you sir

[1:28] this being would be talking about this later on but first of all let me just

[1:35] save publicly that we're using a certain number it's the health department's

[1:42] hotline number or anyone who wants to call in ask questions or seek

[1:46] information so you can give a call two four eight eight three one nine eight if

[1:54] they cannot answer the question you have or the information you seek that call

[1:58] will then be referred to the people that need to receive it and get you the

[2:03] information that we want you to know that we're concerned about your

[2:07] questions and now you have a hotline number on which to call thank you on

[2:17] these meetings we do not have a an agenda rightfully so I think because we

[2:25] need to discuss a lot of stuff I want to tell the public something that has

[2:32] happened I mean nothing serious but I want people to understand that when the

[2:39] governor issued the state of emergency for the state it kicked in to effect

[2:46] some new laws one of those laws is that it set in motion

[2:51] our emergency team and our emergency team which only advises us as

[3:00] commissioners but there on top of this simply because they live it 24/7 and

[3:06] that's our Health Department our EMS department our manager and our Sheriff's

[3:12] Department so that would be considered that your emergency team at this

[3:18] particular point so if you have questions call that hotline number but

[3:23] we will sure that all of our management

[3:26] emergency team are in place and we trust their judgment and they advise us so if

[3:33] there's any questions about that you can give me a call my phone number is seven

[3:39] three six one eight seven six don't be bashful about calling we'll answer any

[3:45] questions you have in the hope we hope that we can provide you with the

[3:51] information you need what we will do at this particular point is hear from David

[4:02] and Allison and see if we have anything new going on

[4:06] so David would you mind okay that's fine

[4:18] yesterday approximately 2:15 2:30 the state health director dr. Elizabeth

[4:23] Tilson and the director of NC emergency management Mott Sprayberry

[4:26] did a briefing you may have all listened to it or read afterwards

[4:32] yesterday afternoon there was 636 cases in 57 counties the average age is 41 we

[4:41] have 50 hospitalizations and two deaths only one of those deaths are actually

[4:48] reported in North Carolina the other one is reported in Virginia for the state

[4:52] that they primary live in and the other death had underlying medical conditions

[4:58] as well there have been approximately 15,000 300 lives completed and there are

[5:05] over 15,000 labs still pending with that our labs they said anywhere from three

[5:13] to five days it is taking at least a week to get those lab results back for

[5:19] those that are being tested in Swain County the mic Sprayberry there the MC

[5:25] emergency management manager or director excuse me said that 48 counties have

[5:30] yosi's activated 95 counties and EBC have declared local states of emergency

[5:36] and there have been 2,500 resource requests across the state he also did

[5:42] say that the White House granted governor Roy Cooper's request late

[5:47] Wednesday for a federal disaster declaration for the Cova 19 pandemic of

[5:52] North Carolina this declaration provides public

[5:55] assistance to all 100 North Carolina counties allowing local government state

[5:59] agencies and eligible nonprofits to be reimbursed for costs involved in

[6:04] responding to the outbreak of code 19 as it updates today we did email visit call

[6:13] motels hotels B&Bs campgrounds on Monday we also sent that information to e BCI

[6:20] as well we are waiting on approximately probably anywhere from five to ten labs

[6:28] to come back currently for Saline County we were notified this morning we do have

[6:33] a positive in our County it is a part-time resident they have been

[6:38] isolated since symptoms appeared and then they were tested and went back home

[6:43] and they have not left their home since then would you say that we're back home

[6:48] they went back home to their state no sir they went back where they were here

[6:52] in Swain County ok thank you

[7:00] any questions commissioners

[7:06] I had that person traveled out of it let's assume they were infected out of

[7:13] the county do you know that information I do not know that information they did

[7:18] travel here from another state and then upon arriving here in the County started

[7:23] to show symptoms and then they were tested you know how long they had been

[7:27] here

[7:40] mr. Chairman I have a question show.allison when you called the lodging

[7:46] establishments and around in our County what was their reaction to your home I

[7:50] guess I'm trying to get a sense of community of cooperation or there was

[7:57] cooperation at my environment Holt staff did the majority of it and they didn't

[8:01] have any pushback yeah I have to talk to you a lot pretty much most doesn't they

[8:11] all called me things like that next day and they were very corrupt it's about

[8:16] trying to get people out of their cabins when I talk to like different captain

[8:21] rental places I just have one more question and it's about testing who what

[8:31] when and where I think the CDC and some of the National

[8:38] people are saying if you don't feel like it don't get tested just stay home

[8:44] hunker down but my question is are there a central people who really ought to be

[8:53] seeking a test and I'm I'm sitting here thinking about the sheriff actually and

[8:58] some of the other people who will be working within for the safety of the

[9:01] county I think in that in that aspect the they're asking that health care

[9:10] workers be tested past that

[9:16] CDC issued some guidance and they have a priority list we haven't shared that on

[9:22] our Facebook page but I know that Green County did share it on theirs and it is

[9:26] health care workers and those who are taking care of sick individuals that may

[9:30] have become sick themselves and those that have been exposed because there's

[9:35] really not anything that you do differently once you have that test

[9:39] other than if it is a health care worker then obviously they wouldn't be working

[9:43] and I would assume we're not making an assumption here and that's always

[9:47] dangerous but I would assume that also people working with within senior

[9:52] citizen communities such as Mountain View that kind of stuff but you're still

[9:59] talking about health care workers so uh okay but I was just wondering and again

[10:08] it's to kind of calm the waters and not issue panic but simply saying you know

[10:14] those who need to be worked with are being worked with as far as the Health

[10:20] Department instance ah yes like Allison said the test results are taken a week

[10:26] to come back and so by the time you get it you should have been isolated anyway

[10:31] so regardless of whether your tests are not the recommendation is that if you

[10:35] feel ill you isolate yourself and there's no need to be

[10:40] to never see the doctor unless you get a 6 ok thank you thank you

[10:49] the only thing I have to announce is of course you can call 2-1-1 to get

[10:54] information for food assistance paying your rent utilities and basic

[10:58] information or you can text kovat and see at 8 - or excuse me at 8 9 8 - 1 1

[11:05] to get regular updates by text is that totally - 19 or is that just covert 19

[11:14] it's a bit nc okay I said nothing but it's okay so we didn't see

[11:21] [Applause]

[11:32] thank you

[11:41] so since the warden was in place on Monday we've received numerous calls

[11:46] we've tried to respond to each of those calls you know a common sense method

[11:51] manner to to make them the criteria the order Sheriff's Department yesterday

[11:57] started doing the spot checks I'll cabins nicer if you were to do that

[12:02] they're just a little up they don't what we have done since the declaration came

[12:10] out we we've checked a lot of cabins by far there's a lot of cooperation by

[12:17] folks but there's always that little number that's going to try to skirt

[12:21] around that declaration and they're using the 30-day rental to try to do it

[12:28] yesterday we I didn't know this when we had our emergency meeting yesterday so

[12:33] we were going to come back through all the data we didn't have any more

[12:36] recommendations but I do have one is to amend the declaration to say that no

[12:44] rentals be on the date of the declaration that that will eliminate

[12:51] that skirting around that that 30-day clause in the declaration Locke said our

[12:59] officers have been out Winston yesterday we're going out again

[13:03] today we're gonna be checking we've told them what was going to be back spot

[13:10] check and so far so good what what brought on my recommendation to you

[13:16] though today I personally talked to one of those rental agencies they've got

[13:21] their doors closed and but they had a service number a customer service number

[13:26] on the door to call so I called and told the lady that you know we were just

[13:32] checking to make sure that there was there's renters were gone and she said

[13:38] well they are but we're gonna we're gonna start the 30-day rental so that

[13:43] that's one against the spirit of the Declaration

[13:46] just on another note we've checked ingles IgA Bojangles Burger King and

[13:57] McDonald's early in the morning 7:00 7:30 8 o'clock and at those times there

[14:04] no out-of-state cars in any of those businesses they're all North Carolina

[14:09] tags now that doesn't mean they're all Swain County residents it could be here

[14:13] from somewhere else but the declaration is working if this one takes a little

[14:19] time to get a full effect but I'm again I'm gonna recommend that

[14:23] y'all go back and amend that 30-day clause so we can can nip it in the bud

[14:30] as Barney five steps

[14:40] gentlemen let's go ahead no twisters go ahead I'm sorry go ahead

[14:44] I'll also enter what the sheriff said I do feel that the woman that is in place

[14:49] Mundy is working for Spokane I feel like we've lesson to travel which is why the

[14:55] goal was in the beginning so I think that is a really big picture working

[15:00] with state emergency management to nuclear regional and statewide effort

[15:05] there's a big plan being built for hospital surgery one estimate and we

[15:13] hope this is a highest is that that we have 50% hospitals search which means it

[15:19] possible is a hundred natives they'll need another feast again we hope

[15:24] that's the highest but we're working with state and regional partners looking

[15:30] at sites to sit up search hospitals should those be necessary the state has

[15:35] a volunteer hotline open I'm sorry I don't have that number with me but I'll

[15:40] furnish that along to your hot line open for health care workers to call it a

[15:44] volunteer to staff and Manly's things as a five o'clock yesterday they had 500

[15:49] health care work would be feted that they were licensed in North Carolina

[15:53] capable and qualified to work in a lot of plants going on to this thing

[15:59] together you know worse than it is now so as we look forward with probably keep

[16:05] that about well I thank you for that David and I also I know that there are

[16:12] people out there who want to volunteer I just have another name that I will

[16:17] send to you after this meeting who is offering his services to volunteer and

[16:23] we've had others and I don't know if you have you can assure them that they will

[16:28] be placed on that list or you know this when needed call them yes the other

[16:34] thing we're doing locally is we're like working

[16:37] hopefully we'll have it operational by Monday we're looking to sit at the food

[16:40] donation side we're looking to have a Family Resource Center someone who has

[16:45] extra food there's a little bit purchase extra food to drop off they will

[16:49] distribute it as they did throughout the county to people that world make of it

[16:55] they hopefully will have that operational above them that day okay

[16:59] good regarding the food pantry and in Burke County it appears that some are

[17:12] trying to work with us and let some of the people who might call in Lois Lane

[17:16] County because they're not on the reservation to get to the food pantry

[17:21] but I think that that Avenue is going to be shut down so I'm going to get with

[17:28] you and let you just make some enquiries and see where we are with that so we can

[17:32] advise our citizens who may be trying to get up in that area and work with the

[17:37] food pantry itself they're a church so work with the food pantry themselves and

[17:44] maybe getting some south into Swain County where how when what needs to be

[17:50] all worked out so I'm just advising you that that that may come down the pike as

[17:55] well and tag along - what - amber was saying about health care workers the EMS

[18:03] staff have been advised if they have well to do daily particular if they've

[18:08] been exposed theft checks on temperature and any other symptoms I'm also told

[18:14] that's working with Mountain View Manor that as their staff comes to work most

[18:18] of those are tested for temp tear and spring with questions is that kind of

[18:23] working stuff so that we can keep those folks such an exposure the EMS would be

[18:30] an exposure where the paramedic didn't have on

[18:33] protective equipment come upon someone unexpectedly they sneaked in his face or

[18:37] something like that if they're wearing the protective equipment mask say she

[18:43] will blows again then that's not exposure they consider protecting them

[18:47] so that each day their xsf monitor Tim cure any other conditions they might

[18:52] have other places relatives what do you personally do use your department

[19:00] personally have enough equipment and and masks and gowns and stuff we have about

[19:08] a two-week supply I spoke with the state officials yesterday part of this

[19:13] disaster declaration by the gunroom of the state allows us to go directly to

[19:17] state to work immediately supplies and the state can go to the federal

[19:21] government there is a supply being held for EMS use and for a hospital use and

[19:28] that kind of thing should we get the point where they have

[19:30] to start distributing there's supposed to be a million masks to do people

[19:34] Carolina sometime this will equal to first next week so we should alleviate

[19:39] Assembly's problems at that point the other thing the decoration gives the

[19:45] county is the option of the absolutely option of any overtime in the extra cost

[19:51] incurred any purchasing events directly related to this - that's what the code

[19:59] of assistance part that Allison was talking about whether that's the systems

[20:03] to local government agencies so early on we asked the finest department start

[20:08] tracking purchases then and also start writing overtime costs so at the end of

[20:14] the I'll report federal government hopefully

[20:18] recruit something okay well then I think that one of the reasons as you all know

[20:25] David that that this board agreed to the state of emergency declaration was

[20:31] simply because the third section of it at the third part of it was that we

[20:36] could get reimbursed for some of our expenses without that signed declaration

[20:40] we can we would not be entitled to that kind of thing so yes sir that's correct

[20:44] and when the president Truong approved the governor's request yesterday for a

[20:48] federal disaster declaration that put all that place we were really excited

[20:53] that you and and we hope that gave either tools necessary to do just that

[21:01] okay so yeah okay thank you thank you

[21:10] anything else david from your team you and okay so as you heard from the

[21:22] sheriff one of the items that the team is requesting would be to amend the

[21:28] supplement first supplemental local declaration of emergency to become

[21:33] effective the date so as of that date established that they're only if you

[21:39] were in a 30-day rental program as of that date then county you qualified but

[21:46] it but if not if you just if it's after that then it would not and so that would

[21:51] be i would need that in like a form of a motion and it will amend that document

[21:55] and have you resigned okay let's back up for just a second on

[22:00] the sheriff's recommendation that this amendment happened i just want people to

[22:08] understand how this verse with us we've got a team in place and that team was

[22:14] put in place by the emergency declaration by the governor and so we

[22:20] take your recommendations seriously we still have to pass it as board of

[22:24] commissioners and usurping our authority they are simply providing us with their

[22:29] basic knowledge of the county and what will better serve the county and so i

[22:35] think we need to listen to it hear it and move with it so that the manager

[22:43] also making it thank you sure with the manager also making that recommendation

[22:48] do you have a an amended document in front of you but that needs to be

[22:53] amended as i'm understanding that's correct

[22:56] so what you have in front of these different the first one is just an

[23:00] amendment and we can do that by a motion and then we'll get an updated copy to

[23:06] you this is kind of something that happened this morning

[23:09] didn't have time to amend actual fur first one so but we'll get a updated

[23:14] copy to you but we can do it by motion just stating that that became on the

[23:19] seventh day 17th day of March I'm sorry it was Monday

[23:25] this past Monday sorry so we'll amend that one to establish that that was the

[23:32] day that they had to be engaged in the 30-day rental program as of that day

[23:39] they had to be in a rental program for otherwise as the share pointed out

[23:45] whereas succinctly they were trying to get around the desk correct by adding

[23:50] now on to that rental to make it a 30-day Creek commissioners any questions

[23:58] on that

[24:02] hearing no questions I will entertain a motion if you would like to add this

[24:07] addendum to the declaration mr. chairman I'd like to add a member to the

[24:15] decoration that is I guess the date would be Monday the 3:23 as of that date

[24:25] we're using that date right as the point of 30-day rambles if you were not a

[24:31] 30-day rental on that date you're not a 30-day ring in other words they cannot

[24:36] go in even if they post dated or predated the agreement and it's a good

[24:44] question that just popped into my mind sheriff how do we how do we account for

[24:49] that if they if they landowner were to if I were to sit down with someone today

[24:56] and wrote the 23rd in on the rental agreement is there any way to do it

[25:04] would take a lot of vigilance on our part to make sure that those people that

[25:10] we had saw I'm here see what we can yeah I mean we're going

[25:13] to question those people and find out exactly what they they did sign that

[25:18] agreement and then you know chips fall where they follow that plan okay very

[25:23] good thank you that was just clarification we have a

[25:27] motion on the floor to accept the amendment as recommended by the chair

[25:31] and also the county manager that the actual start date of any rental will be

[25:39] March the 23rd 3rd 2020 I need a second second okay we have a motion in a second

[25:49] on the floor to accept this amendment to the to the policy statement any

[26:00] questions regarding that from anyone

[26:04] all those in favor of this raise your right hand

[26:09] okay pass unanimously

[26:16] okay anything else we've got a couple folks I think for public comment oh okay

[26:24] do we have anything else right now we have one of the documents that we

[26:28] want to share with you this is an additional supplemental declaration of a

[26:35] local state of emergency it's in addition to the one on the 23rd it's

[26:40] just for your consideration at yesterday's meeting we really didn't

[26:44] discuss this particular document but in a lot of some other information that we

[26:50] received last evening we had Kim Lee Kim carpenter our county attorney cracked

[26:58] this and it basically this defines what essential services are so a lot of

[27:05] definitions even though it's a large document it kind of really good in depth

[27:08] about what essential services are what can and can't be done during a stay home

[27:16] stay safe declaration like this I can read the top top piece for the benefit

[27:22] of the public this is a supplemental declaration of local state of emergency

[27:27] restricted movement of all individuals living within Swain County the town of

[27:32] Russell City to stay at their place of residence except that they may leave to

[27:36] provide or receive certain essential services or engage in certain essential

[27:40] activities and work for essential businesses and governmental services

[27:44] restricting all businesses and governmental agencies to ceased

[27:48] non-essential operations requiring public mobility within the locations

[27:52] within the county restricting all non-essential gatherings of individuals

[27:56] and all non-essential travel and then under Section number five it it kinda

[28:02] goes into leaving the home for essential activities is permitted it's for health

[28:09] and safety for necessary supplies and services for outdoor activity for

[28:15] certain types of work to take care of others for the elderly

[28:21] and those who are vulnerable a health care and public health operations a

[28:26] human services operations essential infrastructure essential governmental

[28:33] functions essential business and operations which includes stores that

[28:38] sell groceries and medicine foods beverage and agriculture organization

[28:43] that brought charitable and social services the media gas stations and

[28:49] businesses meeting needed for transportation financial institutions

[28:53] hardware and supply stores critical trades mail post shipping logistics

[28:59] delivery and pickup services educational institutions laundry services restaurant

[29:08] for consumption off premises supplies to work at work from home supplies for

[29:14] essential business and operations transportation home-based care and

[29:18] services residential facilities and shelters professional services childcare

[29:23] centers manufacturing distribution supply chain and funeral services so

[29:29] coming real it goes in-depth and they each one of those categories are defined

[29:33] on exactly what those entail this was

[29:41] it's a combination of a lot of different best practices throughout the state

[29:45] there's about 15 entities throughout the state currently that have a a shelter in

[29:52] place or state homes stay safe document and so it's it's really taken from a lot

[30:01] of those different ones and putting it that's gonna best fit swing county and

[30:06] so that's that's what this document does if this is a supplemental to the one

[30:10] that you did on the 23rd and it's basically just widely more defined with

[30:15] so we're bringing that to the board for your consideration at this point and

[30:23] and I'm about any other any other group to talk about it the need for it so do

[30:33] you think it's self-explanatory David is that what to the county attorney crafted

[30:42] this document last night and I've read through a little bit okay

[30:46] it looks very similar to what Haywood County put in place this place there's

[30:51] very few changes the hay weekend it allows for people to dinner in most

[30:57] trades most businesses most organizations to continue to work it

[31:02] allows full access for all citizens to go get groceries medicines supplies at

[31:07] hardware store construction items to build houses with it allows all that as

[31:13] in able to canvas there's not a lot of difference in this

[31:17] over than what raksi doing now it just puts if you want a youth into it it's

[31:24] going to increase the sheriff's unfortunately case load and he probably

[31:29] hopes to address that up sure so this order is probably a good thing and I

[31:38] just say that based on when this emergency is over did we do all we can

[31:44] do for slinky

[31:48] so essentially this is a stay home stay safe order

[31:52] this is stay home sites they say forward with enough exceptions for we can still

[31:57] fully function as the government as families at home what exactly is a

[32:03] change that's in this then what we're doing now just more people is gonna call

[32:09] the Sheriff's Department and tell them to give checked out these people that's

[32:12] exactly what I read it pretty much lets anybody work still go to work and it

[32:19] just recommends that they stay home if they can and we're already doing that or

[32:26] recommending their buddy to stay home if they can

[32:29] cuz as far as what I read like you said construction workers can work businesses

[32:36] can work what restrictions would it actually change that we're not what

[32:41] businesses are we actually talking about that it would change it defines it more

[32:46] one that I know you've received a I think I sent you a a communication from

[32:51] the Realtors Association they are not a part of this so there you are not an

[32:58] essential service at this point because they're bringing in people possibly from

[33:03] out of town that correct and so so anyway they are not a part of the

[33:11] professional services so that's one one category that you were probably hearing

[33:15] from but they are bringing in we've witnessed it bring him foot from out of

[33:21] town even during this during this crisis that are looking at houses in our

[33:24] community that are from out of state and so with that being said that's why we

[33:30] eliminate it from the provisional services that that segment of business

[33:35] Realtors would be able to show houses virtually all the class show pictures

[33:40] show videos you know like function everything except the place to

[33:45] face talk face to face but should already be covered too because they

[33:51] should be able to work at home and it's so there's anybody who can work at home

[33:55] so it should be covered about recommending that they work at home and

[34:00] not bring anybody else here that they don't have to from another state correct

[34:04] this document basically just defined more about what is essential and what is

[34:09] not essential during this time of crisis is there any more groups besides just

[34:15] realtors dude that's the one that kind of jumps out at me on on the page and

[34:19] that's what a lot of kind of government said North Carolina have I've kind of

[34:22] dabble around that I think that certain governments have left them in as a

[34:28] professional service some of them have taken them out for that particular

[34:31] reason that most of the folks that are coming in or out of state and you don't

[34:38] know where they're coming from and and what they're bringing with them so that

[34:42] was why that the majority of the county to lift them out of the essential

[34:46] services but it does not make any sense to me if they're gonna be bringing

[34:54] people in from out of county to even have the rest of the staff

[35:27] retail spaces in town not restaurants but no try to get lots and lots of what

[35:39] I believe most out of I'll re closed but what does this order me I think of a

[35:46] banner needs to be I mean you could make you could probably make a a stretcher I

[35:51] mean can be that it would be for household members or delivery of those

[35:57] services or supplies to others such as let's see groceries household consumer

[36:02] products so they wouldn't have to close this with the I read doesn't really

[36:12] close anything but anything for the folks that are here great and and let me

[36:20] ask a question and this goes back to David and share if we were going to send

[36:27] into place this kind of thing who would appear to me that the buildings that

[36:34] were begun on March 23rd should be allowed to complete but no new bill why

[36:43] are we why are we leaving that gap there I think this order allows construction

[36:52] to continue as these new buildings could be constructed buildings could be

[36:56] completed that are right I understand that David but I'm

[37:00] saying we set on the renters we said Monday as the beginning of the how do

[37:10] they get how do we make sure that new visit new buildings are not approved

[37:16] new buildings are not approved as of the 23rd and so they can bring in if if they

[37:24] get building permits they can bring in workers to do the to do the job

[37:29] necessary to me this is a loophole that people can look at and find and you know

[37:38] we're not doing anything about the stay at home stay safe order we're opening it

[37:45] up in my mind but I'm sorry go ahead I didn't mean to interrupt the three or

[37:50] four of these that I have read they would welcome part of making burgers and

[37:55] this one I'll allow for construction trade workers to continue to come to the

[38:00] County and work in an effort to keep the economy going like stopping construction

[38:07] that would take a large number of folks that live in Saline County put them into

[38:14] so I think that's the reasoning that that's left in the construction trades

[38:20] allowed to continue that you new construction be allowed to start and

[38:25] continue we can keep construction riddance once they're finished by the

[38:31] building permit process we can hold all the commune oh there's two tickets and

[38:35] completion technically until this emergency is over so that no one could

[38:39] occupy your house you know if there was a need for that

[38:45] if their workers were coming from counties around us to build these houses

[38:52] it's coming from counties around us there is exposure possibility yes right

[38:59] there is an exposure is there any way that we could suggest if we have people

[39:06] out of work in Swain County we don't need to bring importing other people if

[39:10] they can do the job that needs to be done and we have the people in Swain

[39:14] County so my question is is there any way to suggest that they hire in County

[39:19] rather than importing workers in to Swain County in order to complete these

[39:24] projects mr. singer besides you probably could answer this better than I can but

[39:30] I would guess that the majority of the home construction in Swain County is

[39:34] done by workers within the two three County radius that are being built right

[39:41] now are built by local contractors who are local people there may be some subs

[39:47] that come out Jackson County and Macon County but it's not like an overwhelming

[39:55] a load of people that are coming in here for base of houses but there are people

[40:00] coming in I hear what you're saying a hundred percent there's no way to rule

[40:05] out a hundred percent of anything coming in just County then why are we doing

[40:08] this and any part because we're trying to protect the 99 percent of Kings equal

[40:17] work it's not true we're trying to keep people working the can work and there's

[40:24] others can mean there's people in this county works another campaign and we're

[40:29] still allowed to have pretty short as of now we've got people living out

[40:34] this County going to other counties to work so it would be the essential sign

[40:38] as you shut it down people coming into same one's going on scum could get

[40:42] something bring back in so there's like there's just like not a hundred percent

[40:46] foolproof plan to like it working hundred percent back to ten not do it

[40:51] because you can't get the hundred machine you still gotta be able to do it

[40:56] much of which in other counties I know Haywood County's one of those that we

[41:03] did not put in here is if a county resident from Haywood went somewhere for

[41:08] three days when they came back there had self quarantine we didn't have any of

[41:11] that in as well and I think that goes along with it so if somebody comes in to

[41:17] work they're gonna be leaving that same day and it'll be easily with a three

[41:22] County area so I think that was a minimal risk versus somebody that was

[41:26] heaven yeah that was going back to like and I was neighbors I did not agree that

[41:30] three County you know there's no three County limit

[41:34] but but normally if somebody's farther than that they're going to be spend the

[41:38] night here and it would be the staying in place order we've had several people

[41:43] come in there's a group up on let's build houses on the worker they have

[41:48] out-of-state folks building those they stay there staying

[41:51] in swing Kenny now they have been for over several months and they ask for

[41:56] variances to stay at the at a local hotel which we granted because that was

[42:02] at the first order the hotel that's going in down the street they all their

[42:08] workers are from out of state they're staying at a local hotel so a lot of

[42:12] different things like that so I think the people that are from way far off

[42:15] that are in Swain County Building are already here have already received you

[42:20] know bear insists to stay here this order would say okay we can't leave you

[42:26] know if you're here you can't leave if you do you know okay so so I guess what

[42:32] I'm getting at with all of this is simply the March 23rd a date now if the

[42:41] people have been vetted before that and are in the county working that's fine

[42:46] finish your job I don't I'm saying that if they are building something and they

[42:53] lose workers because of this and were they how do we replace those workers

[43:00] what kind of bidding goes on do they come in and are they under a period of

[43:08] time you know that they have to do that the 14 days or you know you say I'm just

[43:15] kind of getting confused with all of this wording going around and you know

[43:20] I'm just trying to get it to others understood so the public can understand

[43:25] there's nothing in this document that prohibit that that construction company

[43:30] from gathering other workers from other parts of the state or the country to

[43:36] come in and work so that no it would not do that because you're still you still

[43:41] have the potential to bring in people we don't know what's going to take a place

[43:46] even if the pictures with just a second even if the people came in and Alison's

[43:52] department said that you're under a 14 day quarantine limited or whatever they

[44:01] can only be on the jobsite they can't go really anywhere else because they're

[44:06] under quarantine and so it doesn't matter them

[44:09] we're from where they come well it does but you know doesn't matter from where

[44:13] they come they would be immediately placed under the quarantine they could

[44:18] go to work they can still work but that quarantine I think is a very important

[44:23] part of this and in protecting our citizens if indeed that's what we're

[44:26] saying we're trying to do the only thing we could add to this is to limit the you

[44:33] know for if you want to put a two-week moratorium on building permits we can

[44:41] you can look at doing that and that would slow down the progression through

[44:46] this event Thank You Alison I do have a question for you

[44:52] as we go into this and look at this is there a possibility is it even possible

[45:00] to do such a quarantine on new workers coming in who have not been bedded up to

[45:05] this point who are coming in after March 23rd they self quarantine or an issued

[45:15] quarantine is that even possible I don't know

[45:23] I'm gonna say no one keeping track of them and knowing who's coming into the

[45:29] county that would be virtually impossible

[45:31] secondly the God it's now on quarantine is somebody that's even positive for

[45:36] Kovac 19 their household is under quarantine but they're only to

[45:41] self-monitor so they can still go out and about in the community they don't

[45:46] have to stay home is what the new guidance is now

[45:50] so if our citizens who may have been exposed to Kovac 19 can go out and about

[45:57] in the county and did what they need to do I'm not sure I can make an out of

[46:02] towner something more stringent towards them I

[46:06] don't know that okay but again I don't know how how we would do that it would

[46:13] appear to me that that the employer who are bringing these people in would have

[46:18] to be in touch with you at the Health Department just say they're bringing in

[46:23] new employees and to say that if they self quarantine and quarantine is such a

[46:30] scary word anyway it's self monitor they would self want to show themselves as

[46:34] work for fevers or respiratory problems that's anything like that right so but

[46:40] it would appear to me that if the Builder were concerned that they could

[46:45] work with you and when they bring in new workers if they don't bring any new

[46:49] workers in a problem but when they bring in new workers and new workers had no

[46:56] illnesses but still needed to stay separate they're with their crews and

[47:05] I'm asking you because I don't know I mean you know but it appears to me that

[47:11] something like that could be worked out just for the new workers coming in

[47:15] been here working as a March 23rd that's a possibility and even then I would

[47:22] actually refer it back to the building department because they would know

[47:26] what's being bought and who's coming in and what the contractors or who they're

[47:30] using more so than I would it would just be on faith base for me if someone

[47:35] contacted me but Kevin and his office would know but your resources and

[47:41] working with your resources that's what I would hope you would do you know

[47:47] you've got you've got to the coordinating build your team of trusted

[47:52] people and if that's the building department it's the building department

[47:56] but to me the issue is the overarching issue here is is there any way that we

[48:03] can build that and you do it any way you do it anyway

[48:07] but is there any way that we can build that just to ensure people ouais your

[48:14] people that we're kind of on top of that I mean we can request that contractors

[48:23] notify us of anybody that's coming to work from out of Rawson seedy swanky on

[48:29] the area we can do that as a voluntary basis you can require it

[48:37] so that just depends on what action you want to take okay but if we required it

[48:42] my question boils down to can you make it happen we can we can pass it but can

[48:53] you make it happen once we do that working with the building working with

[48:58] other people and just make the request that they inform you if new work

[49:03] coming we can make a database of that of people if the contractor will call us

[49:08] and notify us now when it goes past that point that they do not notify us and

[49:13] you've required it then that goes to the Sheriff's Department of the police

[49:17] department for citation because my office would not be able to do that

[49:21] right I understand I understand what your limitations are sheriff what's your

[49:26] take on that let me go back to the very first about to stay home and stay safe

[49:34] okay I'm all for staying safe if you if you all do issue a stay home slash stay

[49:43] safe it's going on a this way to love these people that have no symptoms

[49:49] they're not ill they're not going to be able to go to the drive-through they're

[49:55] not going to be able to carry out and these businesses that are struggling

[49:59] they're gonna fail I mean there's babies they're relying on on those people to

[50:05] frequent for business and bring money here my opinion my opinion I agree with

[50:11] the stay safe and that's common sense right and instead of making an a

[50:18] declaration you might want to consider making a suggestion or recommendation

[50:24] without making it an order now takes a lot of burden off with us all so that

[50:30] happens I mean we're gonna do our job but you know first thing you're gonna

[50:36] overload wagon I agree with that one thing so

[50:44] one of the things is food food beverage in agriculture so they will be able to

[50:49] still go to the doctors just like they are anyway pretty much yeah this all

[50:53] this order really does is define it more and and exempt non-essential services

[51:00] which we've talked about the one that kind of jumps out to me is the real

[51:05] estate but as far as everything else it's pretty much exactly what it is now

[51:10] and it does encourage people to stay home encourage people to do social

[51:17] distancing and be mindful of their surroundings so that this basically just

[51:23] puts in paper I think what what's your what message you want to convey you know

[51:29] we think it's best for you to stay home we think it's best for if you do go out

[51:32] you can go here here here and you're relatively you know as long as you have

[51:39] social distancing should be just our recommendation so what is a

[51:46] recommendation but it's more of a you know order at the same time where you

[51:53] have and like and want and people have a certain level of security knowing that

[52:00] the government is looking out for their best interests

[52:06] okay we have a motion in a second on the floor it's time for thanks Sheriff Thank

[52:11] You Alison it's time for either further discussion or

[52:24] that was the May 23rd orbits evening March 23rd okay like this I haven't seen

[52:32] in there anywhere we're having a lot of folks concerned about County buildings

[52:39] should that be a part of this if you consider that if you look at

[52:43] non-essential services for governmental part course they do they're pretty much

[52:49] bottled in to found with this order we will be closing the courthouse functions

[52:54] which would be the tax office pressure deeds and the DMV lots of played agency

[53:01] we don't know at this point how long right now I would suggest at least 14

[53:08] days starting Monday this billing course will be closed essential services are

[53:15] going to be your sanitation any public you know public safety official quarter

[53:20] to me essential services the folks that are in this building would be working in

[53:25] their office disclose to the public and we will have our all the policies of

[53:31] protocols for social distancing put in place with my have to do staggered you

[53:36] know staggered staffing to to help us through this protective order so with

[53:42] that closing the tag office Francis would you still allow a number on the

[53:48] door and people one person in to do business at a time right we can look at

[53:54] different protocols whatever whatever y'all would not really receive any

[53:58] notification from the DMV we are a contractor for the DMV so we have to

[54:03] kind of go by some of their guidelines and so we'll touch base with them to see

[54:08] if that would even be possible it may just be need to be closed for two weeks

[54:13] and then Rio but we will check with them first and

[54:16] give just to see but if that's a possibility yes

[54:20] yeah and that was gonna be my question as well I have received if someone says

[54:27] we got ten calls I wish I don't have gotten ten calls but but the question

[54:32] was if they are a senior citizen have other vulnerabilities and they don't

[54:40] want to come to town to renew their vehicle what did they do so I guess my

[54:49] question is unless the state does it we can't extend for them any time so the

[54:57] state would have to hand down hand that down to us and with them as you're

[55:01] talking about the office but you know all of the other stuff as well so yeah

[55:06] as far as policy goes we are just number 87 of the license plate agency or AOPA

[55:13] and we are a contractor just like a lot of counties and and private businesses

[55:19] don't State North Carolina are so we got to go by their policies and procedures

[55:22] the only thing we can do and in this course of state of works that we can and

[55:26] probably close the office but as far as you know going out to the public or big

[55:31] stuff by phone normally with that particular office we have to have you

[55:36] know the title in hand face to face and unfortunate that that's just the way the

[55:42] nature of that business

[55:49] anything

[55:54] anyway

[55:58] I've read through some of this just skimming through it I thought you'd

[56:02] really pretty much legs out a lot of stuff that we that it kind of puts words

[56:07] to thoughts because we don't I don't know what essentially as you say

[56:11] essential it was kind of so I think this is what this is doing I think we need to

[56:16] look at it I have an order and not just a suggestion because I don't all kinds

[56:22] of suggestions but effect orders are what we're here for

[56:27] we just suggest things that I don't know if that's really got any backbone the

[56:33] teeth to it at all and that there won't be a lot I don't think of people that'll

[56:37] be completely out of compliance with this if they are they want to deal with

[56:42] it when we when we get there I think it's just one of the things we don't

[56:47] know exactly what something is gonna look like but bactine keep us from

[56:53] trying to do what we knows right

[57:01] since we're gonna have a motion in a second on the floor like this that's the

[57:05] next step when we have not seen this so we cannot act on today so would it carry

[57:16] over to the next meeting when we decide to meet our next regular meeting or you

[57:22] can I know you've not seen it now and we can take talent if you don't then go

[57:27] through each part of it since it is an emergency document you can't act on it

[57:34] today or maybe an emergency document and we could act on it today but I don't

[57:41] understand it and I don't want to act on anything I don't know I

[57:46] you can call a meeting Monday if that's what you prefer and and do it then or

[57:53] one day next week and I've said that for myself let me ask

[57:59] the rest of the permission of the other commissioners have their breathing aids

[58:02] on i'll miss Sherman I'll start if you want me to on this side of the table

[58:08] this is the Supplemental declaration of locals state emerge it has to do with

[58:14] restricting movement of all individuals living within Swain County the town of

[58:18] Grasse City stay at their place risk accepting someone goes on and then it

[58:22] explains what those are I don't necessarily have an issue with that

[58:27] whatsoever in us passing that today and then I would think that we would

[58:32] actually been to go ahead and meet again early next week as well to continue to

[58:36] be updated and continue to see how everything that we are putting into

[58:41] place is working this time to receive concerns from citizens to turn over to

[58:47] the Sheriff's Department of Health Department County government

[58:51] I for one myself think this just explains what we're trying to do anyway

[58:56] so myself mr. Chairman I would be in favor of going head and voting on this

[59:02] at this meeting this morning and mr. commissioner if I may say we can

[59:09] come back if we run into problems and amend it anyway so it's not really

[59:14] locked in or locks in we can come back and amend it should

[59:18] that mean I think you're absolutely correct we've already made an amendment

[59:22] for muddies meaning to this one and so if we whatever day we choose next week

[59:27] Tuesday Monday Tuesday whatever the first part of week we'll have three or

[59:31] four days here at two or three days too however whatever they we choose to to

[59:36] reassess what we've done so I think it shows a for me I think it shows the

[59:43] citizens we're working and trying to stay on top of this I think by passing

[59:48] this supplemental declaration of restriction of movement would be prudent

[59:54] for us to do that's my opinion also as I'm speaking though it also understand

[1:00:02] it's there it is a class 2 misdemeanor to violate these laws in a talk to

[1:00:11] sheriff Cochran and that goes on your record and you pay a fine so we we that

[1:00:18] we want people to take this seriously as well well and I think that that's a very

[1:00:23] good point commissioner that you've raised we're not just sitting here

[1:00:29] because we don't have anything else to do today we are concerned about the

[1:00:33] safety of the county and the people and we do want them to take it seriously and

[1:00:38] I think you're absolutely right I agree with Roger I think we need to go

[1:00:44] and get this thing in place if we're gonna get it in place come back I'd say

[1:00:48] we made again Monday morning and I am on that and then I say we get it meet again

[1:00:53] at least by maybe Wednesday maybe two or three times a week because these things

[1:00:58] changing every day and we got we got to be ahead at this end of this game

[1:01:02] we can this I don't think there's anything you're about to come back and

[1:01:06] just really destroy this and dig something different it's it's gonna be a

[1:01:11] little mimics like the one we've done today the date for the third of they

[1:01:15] rentals that's we didn't see that in our last time so we put in there so I'm

[1:01:21] gonna Green looks weird we we both on this day and get it going as an

[1:01:25] ordinance or a amendment tubular well I'm gonna greement also I would say that

[1:01:31] if we need time to sit here and go through this for an hour I just don't

[1:01:47] see that it explains everything as well as everybody says it does because we've

[1:01:51] asked questions already about what the essential things are what it's going to

[1:01:57] change that we haven't gotten place now I don't believe we're gonna be able to I

[1:02:02] don't like restricting movement I don't like the way that even sounds understand

[1:02:09] but we all are taking this serious I've got family members also that are in

[1:02:17] danger higher risk of this but I I do not see that this does anything

[1:02:23] different than what we've already done pretty much and I wish people would just

[1:02:29] be considerate of us when it comes to coming from towns or cities of other

[1:02:38] states here they're not being considered to us the only reason I could even vote

[1:02:45] for the other part because the nura knows was because people weren't being

[1:02:50] considerate of us we don't have the facilities to deal with the earthy we do

[1:02:57] not need a flow of people here and but I do not see that this does anything

[1:03:04] really different and I've read it and it's look no any different than even

[1:03:11] what the governor said the sensual businesses and stuff already

[1:03:18] yeah and I have to agree I think we're doing this and you know if I may

[1:03:23] disagree with you Danny for just a second

[1:03:26] I don't think sitting here reading it going over it line by line really

[1:03:29] captures us going home thinking about it until the next meeting because ideas and

[1:03:38] things formulate in your mind and when you're trying to even defend or argue

[1:03:46] your point of view takes everything away then you're not concentrating on this

[1:03:50] anymore because then you wind up in a disagreement that is so unnecessary so

[1:03:56] okay I think we've discussed sure one of the comments just so our emergency teams

[1:04:03] at yesterday's minute did not come up with this document in fact we we were

[1:04:09] kind of up to consensus that what we were doing was working it is working it

[1:04:14] is working it what kind of breakfast a lot is what David talked about earlier

[1:04:21] about the State Emergency Management ramping up their efforts to create

[1:04:28] regional hospitals because they see a possible surge in this event and so

[1:04:36] that's really what prompted us to create this document and it's mostly is

[1:04:42] defining what non-essential services are you're correct it's not really expanding

[1:04:48] much about it but it's a template moving forward when we do have to add things to

[1:04:54] it the framework is there it's already in

[1:04:58] place it's already establishing what technically it's already here so that

[1:05:01] that's why we're bringing it to you sure now no this is a supplement I understand

[1:05:05] that Roger raised the point that I wanted to

[1:05:08] ask the fines and that kind of thing does it need to be in the supplement

[1:05:15] since it in the original document as far as the

[1:05:19] relative properties no no as far as if you don't say at home and there's

[1:05:25] somebody that decides to report you what you create what you're causing I found

[1:05:31] the last page of this document my question is it does sound art but to

[1:05:40] reiterate and to really to reiterate what it what it would cost the

[1:05:48] individual to violate it we've already got that but it was only

[1:05:53] for their rental it's not for the stay in place okay

[1:06:05] and again you know seeking clarifications of people who are

[1:06:10] listening or we hope we've been clear we've gone through a lot of stuff and so

[1:06:15] I'm back and forth but here there are no more discussion issues with this I will

[1:06:25] entertain a motion to adopt the supplement I'll make a motion that we've

[1:06:31] got the supplement declaration of local state emergency order okay I need a

[1:06:42] second I'll second okay we've got a motion in a second on the floor to adopt

[1:06:47] the Supplemental four addendum to the server

[1:06:52] one other thing I'm sorry this will go in effect at 8:00 p.m. tonight hear that

[1:07:00] and if we want to put it into effect I was going to affair today I don't know

[1:07:04] why or so okay okay so we have a motion in a second on the floor to adopt the

[1:07:10] supplement or addendum to the original whatever you call it state of

[1:07:18] emergency

[1:07:22] do any other any other discussions if not then if you agree I want to ask

[1:07:31] you to raise your right hand and that's for if you disagree please raise your

[1:07:39] right hand okay so it's four to one but this is

[1:07:43] past

[1:07:48] okay anything else on dish or rounders can I ask this whoever this was been

[1:08:01] quarantined that positive tested what was there is there other people that are

[1:08:06] 14 with them I was wondering how this quarantine works I know if you

[1:08:14] quarantine one person does anybody there hasn't contact with them I also get

[1:08:19] quarantine it's not coordinated be self monitoring we we would try to get a list

[1:08:25] of anybody that's been in contact with this person and notify them just to self

[1:08:30] monitor and take note of that basically there is family with this person and

[1:08:37] they are not to my knowledge so any any signs or symptoms at this time okay I

[1:08:42] was just coming so we're group also talked about and I know y'all I've had

[1:08:49] some discussions about closing borders and things like that so just let you

[1:08:55] know for the public's benefit that we are looking at all aspects at this point

[1:09:00] we've determined it would take 48 deputies to to do man stops at each one

[1:09:06] of error in the county so we don't have one we don't have the lift the fork the

[1:09:11] second we did go out for an RFP for emergency silence and road closure I

[1:09:18] guess equipment and so just to make sure we have it I think it was going to be

[1:09:24] $30,000 for a two-week period to close the roads so just FYI we we are we do

[1:09:32] have the capability if this board chooses to do so as far as not not the

[1:09:37] manpower but to do road closures at some point and just one less you know we are

[1:09:43] looking at all aspects of this event and process and but that's not a

[1:09:51] recommendation of the very our group I want to let you know mr. Chairman I

[1:09:59] would also like for us together I think we did a good job last Monday of getting

[1:10:04] the supplement out that we pass at that time to all the different sources for

[1:10:11] people to be able to see and I suggest we did the same thing make sure that it

[1:10:14] gets out to every kind of about late' agency so that people can read this

[1:10:20] supplement and see what it is that we just passed see what watch restricted

[1:10:25] and what is not restricted and I think that's very important thing get that out

[1:10:30] there and put it on our government page smoking that sometimes all of it all

[1:10:36] access to it with that since it's a longer document we recommend posting on

[1:10:42] the actual website and we can post a link to the website because you have to

[1:10:47] scan it in on the Facebook and it's too large for that and it's hard to read

[1:10:52] thank you did you say what you wanted or something just yes sir I just want to

[1:10:58] get it out there I just want this to be available dark yeah we're looking at

[1:11:02] clerk and say that that falls within her bailiwick and she should be able to get

[1:11:07] this out where it needs to go okay any other questions

[1:11:16] if we are going to meet next week first of next week I would ask that we meet at

[1:11:20] 10:00 or after lunch this just gives us a little more time to meet as agreed but

[1:11:25] the thing has happened over the weekend or that we can bring any recommendations

[1:11:29] to you yeah well I really appreciate you saying that

[1:11:32] because I feel the same way it's one thing to let public know that we're on

[1:11:37] top of all this or that we're involved in it's another thing to give you guys

[1:11:41] time to do due diligence so so I agree with that and you can I think we can do

[1:11:49] that a little bit get time for the team I guess

[1:11:53] [Music]

[1:11:59] one o'clock please okay so we have not set a time yet but just keep that in

[1:12:06] mind when you get around to setting the time for our next meeting okay anything

[1:12:11] else around this issue if not we do have some people who want to speak to us and

[1:12:21] so understanding chair go ahead were you gonna get somebody I think

[1:12:34] we're ready next item public a barn I need to go is

[1:12:39] there any other questions before we head out thank you guys for staying on top of

[1:12:47] this thank you for having all the house a couple times I appreciate the info so

[1:12:52] you're gonna good job okay my name is Cynthia wama I'm a resident

[1:13:04] of Swain County I sit to each of you an email

[1:13:07] the commissioners this week an email expressing my concerns about the county

[1:13:11] and and also thanking you for all that you've done so far the declaration on

[1:13:16] Monday you just passed a supplemental to that I do share the same concern you

[1:13:23] have mr. Partin on exactly what changes I'm not sure there's a single business

[1:13:28] in Swain County that will close because of this declaration as being

[1:13:34] non-essential it seems pretty broad and that seems to be what happening in the

[1:13:37] other counties I do want to like said thank you it's amazing to see our

[1:13:41] community come together the way it has right now I mean neighbors helping

[1:13:45] neighbors strangers helping each other at a time of crisis we do have a lot of

[1:13:51] people in need in our community we have a lot of people out of work we also have

[1:13:55] a lot of resources with our food bank here in Bryson City with restoration

[1:13:59] house with the caring corner with all our churches coming together I am just

[1:14:04] astounded by what our school district has been able to do in a very short

[1:14:09] period of time to completely change their mode of operation

[1:14:14] in all ways and still have services going to our folks the health department

[1:14:20] our first responders I mean it is just amazing to me and like said I do I do

[1:14:26] want to thank you all of you for what's happening there and then I asked them we

[1:14:31] not forget those folks who are in those essential businesses like our grocery

[1:14:34] workers that our pharmacists and health care all of those who are out there some

[1:14:40] of very low paying jobs working their butts off literally to make sure that we

[1:14:45] have food it came to my attention earlier this week that one of our local

[1:14:52] citizens had started a petition to close the borders of Swain County to anyone

[1:14:58] and I know you just addressed that here and said the emergency management team

[1:15:04] had already looked at that and what it would cost and what it would take in

[1:15:07] terms of manpower I I know that that petition does have a lot of signatures

[1:15:12] on it right now from Swain County residents but I wanted you to know that

[1:15:16] not all Swain County residents believe that's the right way to go I can only

[1:15:20] speak for me I don't have a petition but I can tell you that I don't believe it's

[1:15:25] the right way to go and I think that I would rather have our scarce resources

[1:15:30] that we have in our County whether that's our law enforcement whether it is

[1:15:36] anyone else who works for the county spent on other positive things than

[1:15:43] trying to keep out somebody who we don't even know who or what they are at a time

[1:15:50] when we are part of a larger community we Swain County don't stand alone in

[1:15:56] Western North Carolina as several have you brought up during the meeting we had

[1:16:02] people in Swain County who work in other counties we have people in other

[1:16:08] counties who are essential personnel in our County they are our school teachers

[1:16:12] they work at Ingalls they are people who are pharmacists they're everything their

[1:16:18] health care if one person crosses it's a porous border

[1:16:24] we also haven't talked about the people that would need to get through our

[1:16:28] County to get to other places whether that is to Graham County to Macon County

[1:16:33] to Cherokee County wherever it is they would need to go and how those people

[1:16:38] would be taken care of are we really going to stop everybody at the border of

[1:16:42] Swain County and check their temperature oh wait that doesn't work either because

[1:16:46] you can be asymptomatic and already have covin 19 so I just wanted to say I don't

[1:16:53] agree with that and that I think that we're stronger together with the other

[1:16:57] counties in Western North Carolina and that we shouldn't try to go this alone

[1:17:01] we need to be a team with Jackson and Swain and with Jackson and Graham and

[1:17:06] Macon and remember that we are all neighbors we have families in those

[1:17:11] counties we have friends in those counties we have Church family members

[1:17:16] in those counties we have co-workers in those counties they're not the enemy we

[1:17:21] should let them come to our ankles in shock we shouldn't say you can't and

[1:17:25] they should allow me to go to Lowe's if I need something that for some reason

[1:17:29] Clampetts doesn't have they have almost everything but if they do not have it I

[1:17:34] ought to be able to go to Lowe's in Jackson County and get it I don't want

[1:17:38] them and tell me I can't do that and I don't want here for us to be saying you

[1:17:43] are others you're not important enough we only care about people who actually

[1:17:48] have Swain County on their driver's license I think that's the wrong message

[1:17:52] to send at a time when the nation is in crisis we need to be caring we need to

[1:17:58] be safe we don't want people spreading but we need to do it in a way that's

[1:18:04] compassionate thank you very much thank you

[1:18:25] good morning good morning um so I've timed myself to my three minutes so good

[1:18:32] morning to state your name for the record

[1:18:36] oh yes my name is Kellie mark I'm a 26 year old citizen currently residing in

[1:18:41] Whittier and I've been living here since the age of three twenty-fourth I drew up

[1:18:50] a petition to get his swing Jerry Porter disclosed my opinion was formed after

[1:18:55] the cloture of Qualla boundary Green County and most recently Highlands and

[1:18:59] deciding this is best for our local communities what the most recent news of

[1:19:04] the US having the highest a minute of reported cases in the world

[1:19:08] I believe the virus has already made and since been confirmed that it is in our

[1:19:12] town at this moment it does not matter how it got here

[1:19:16] it's matters how we're going to stop the spread or flatten the curve I've had

[1:19:21] three popular opinions on why closing the border is a bad idea people can't

[1:19:25] get to work or visit family they cannot go to the grocery store or pharmacy or

[1:19:29] doctor and that we've already closed all parks and short-term rentals which

[1:19:32] should alleviate the mass amounts of visitors that we do have I was

[1:19:36] optimistic on Tuesday and Wednesday when both announcements were made the grocery

[1:19:40] store traffic was much less than Monday and it actually found some ground beef

[1:19:44] my response to these challenges number one if your job is essential you will be

[1:19:49] able to travel in and out of counties this is what Grand Cherokee and

[1:19:52] Highlands are doing and I cannot see why we would be any different - if our

[1:19:56] borders which shut down that does not mean no one can cross the line ever it

[1:20:00] simply means that the entrances will be limited to the locals of Sling County

[1:20:04] and similar to a routine traffic check a driver's license

[1:20:07] long term rental agreement or a job ID are just a few of the options that I

[1:20:11] imagine could get us through the border and as previously mentioned with your

[1:20:15] addendum to the declaration that covered my third point on that part with the 30

[1:20:20] day as a Monday so turning to turning away visitors is the last thing that I

[1:20:25] want to do right now but at this moment Phil it's in our best interest to do so

[1:20:28] and if all surrounding counties are on lockdown our citizens cannot get in but

[1:20:33] their citizens can come into our County and use our resources and possibly

[1:20:37] expose us even more I know that our staff is limited as well as our

[1:20:41] resources and what there being many entrances in and out of swing county

[1:20:45] have attempted to come up with the simplest solution we would need a total

[1:20:48] of five closed roads three manned blockades located at exit 67 which is

[1:20:53] the main exit Markey Hyatts garage catching all traffic coming off exit 64

[1:20:58] as well as those traveling back roads like lower Larkin Road and Buckner

[1:21:01] branch and highway 19 at the pull off just past Darnell farms and Walker would

[1:21:05] erode catching traffic from ela and Hiatt Creek exit and then the two

[1:21:10] unmanned blockades located at the east side of Old River Road allowing

[1:21:13] residents to access the west side and on Tom Branch Road if galbart Creek which

[1:21:17] limits accessibility through Deep Creek I truly believe the sooner we take

[1:21:21] action and the sooner we get back to our normal lives and routine I've printed

[1:21:26] out a copy of what I've said today as well as a copy of the petition that give

[1:21:29] to you and I ask that you please consider this in all information and the

[1:21:32] upcoming decisions that need to be made I would like to thank you for your time

[1:21:36] I suppose everything that you have done for a community as far as the outbreak

[1:21:41] of the corona virus I know myself as well as others really appreciate your

[1:21:47] time and effort to help our community and they have these I just a couple

[1:21:54] copies you would give them to the clerk please thank you very much thank you

[1:22:14] okay commissioners you heard we need to comment

[1:22:21] I appreciate them saying how much they appreciate you know we're all on this

[1:22:27] bubble together and you know we're learning as we go as well as they are

[1:22:32] everyone else and so I guess when I ask questions I want people to understand

[1:22:38] that I'm trying to get clarification if I understand it I'm sure the public

[1:22:41] would understand so that's part of what it is gentlemen do you have anything

[1:22:46] else to add to assist the sheriff and all of us I guess in my thought process

[1:23:04] the owner would put in Monday and the only bid or an effort to restrict the

[1:23:10] movement and what's happening it doesn't sound bad we should agree with our goal

[1:23:18] they 100 city was successful we are not know if we can stop 75% of it I would

[1:23:25] say that's highly successful so as the citizens in the county are thinking

[1:23:31] about the orders that we have in place that started to make phone calls you

[1:23:34] know understand that we're getting the most of the traffic stopped we have so

[1:23:39] far we've heard what the sheriff site and then surveys in looking there's not

[1:23:43] as many out-of-state cars here which is our available so the citizens the county

[1:23:49] if we can ask them to have a little patience as we're going through and and

[1:23:53] they start they see someone think shouldn't do you they're gonna call and

[1:23:56] say with somebody you know if it's a concern absolutely

[1:24:00] but at the same time if they would give us some time to make this work and with

[1:24:06] the understanding that we are not gonna be a hundred percent successful well

[1:24:11] thank you

[1:24:16] we are definitely an unchartered water this is kind of learn as you go

[1:24:23] situation hopefully if we ever have to face this again we'll have things in

[1:24:28] place that that will eliminate a lot of this these meetings trying to to get

[1:24:35] plans and procedures in place but I appreciate you all to God I mean you've

[1:24:41] worked hard trying to do what you think's right for Swain County and we're

[1:24:46] gonna we're gonna do our best try to fulfill those orders let you put out I

[1:24:54] think we're gonna be a better County when this is over with I think we're

[1:24:59] gonna come together we're going to grow and just be better for it

[1:25:04] well let me think you and I will and I think David but let me die and your crew

[1:25:10] your staff and deputies because we could pass anything we want to pass but if we

[1:25:17] don't have anybody to go out and enforce it then it doesn't do us any good so

[1:25:21] we're counting on you and depending on you

[1:25:24] and waiting on you to come back with good advice I thought that was an

[1:25:29] excellent recommendation this morning and we thank you very much David that

[1:25:35] takes nothing away from your crew or your staff because we know that

[1:25:41] emergency responders emergency personnel are they literally are on the not the

[1:25:49] front line but they're on the line and they are we need to try to ensure that

[1:25:55] they have all of the equipment that they need in order to respond to the citizens

[1:25:59] of Swain County so we thank you and Allison and anyone else our manager who

[1:26:06] is involved in this and helping us and guiding us I think that the emergency

[1:26:11] team is in place so we don't make any knee-jerk reactions or emotional actions

[1:26:16] that we do what is better for the county and you know your recommendations dumas

[1:26:23] time to sit and think about what's going on so I thank you baby

[1:26:29] you have anything to say I just got one question it's not here to come up with

[1:26:34] lots of questions I think I just had I just had a text from someone and again

[1:26:40] we're gonna get I think barrage with calls about essential services is there

[1:26:47] some place we should refer them to call to have that help me to find a princess

[1:26:55] I have a text from someone that mows lawns are they considered an essential

[1:27:00] service how are we going to define all this we got to take it one at a time or

[1:27:09] how we're going to do that these people are this person is serious and wanting

[1:27:15] to know it's a livelihood issue for them also

[1:27:23] and the answer your question I will have to go back and look at the essential

[1:27:27] part I know other counties have kind of toured with that that the lawn mowing

[1:27:33] landscaping businesses in my mind they are essential services because you you

[1:27:39] know that would go it's a executive a health related part

[1:27:44] if it didn't get done then you could have possibility of rodents things like

[1:27:49] that so it's so many so in my mind it would be essential yeah I think Kim left

[1:27:54] that out so so basically it is an essential service from air wouldn't a

[1:27:59] standpoint there are other counties that thought it was not an essential service

[1:28:03] and therefore they they put a stop to it because there would be more than three

[1:28:08] or four people in a truck going to a sod and that was their logic but I think we

[1:28:13] left it out I think that I think it's part of our essential services but in

[1:28:17] going forward we're going to get I think the wrong Falls and then a lot of

[1:28:22] complaints about will you love that one work in this is there an opportunity to

[1:28:27] set up we have committed ourselves we have one Danny I'm sorry okay we have

[1:28:32] one the health department hotline for eight eight three one nine eight they

[1:28:39] can call and get those kind of questions if the person on the phone cannot answer

[1:28:44] that question they would either go to Kevin or or even David or Alison herself

[1:28:50] so so yes the four eight eight three one nine eight also I think that if we feel

[1:28:59] that the words Lynne what you call it the people that mow the lawns take it

[1:29:09] for essential care or for they help the landscaping thinking we need to get that

[1:29:16] if we if if it's important then we need to come back and amend our thing and in

[1:29:22] in there doesn't mean that we can do that for everyone but I think that I

[1:29:27] agree that it is an essential thing because grown longer tired snakes

[1:29:33] well I think we can make it arbitrary to where people can plead their case okay

[1:29:42] sure miss Jennifer gonna enforce an order we

[1:29:47] we can have knee-jerk reactions so I need a very specific list of those

[1:29:54] people that that are considered essential I know some of them are listed

[1:29:58] here but I don't I don't want my officers going out and having to make a

[1:30:03] decision on side saying oh I'm sorry you you can work or sorry you can't work so

[1:30:09] I need that list now that's what we're gonna go by well then thank you very

[1:30:13] much Sheriff and I agree with you as well that it's our order it's our we put

[1:30:18] it in place and so if that will help you better do your job that's what we'll do

[1:30:23] so and I see the manager nodding his head so I think he agrees

[1:30:28] and he will come back to us at our next meeting with some recommendations and

[1:30:32] thank you for the coffee Joey I do have something though I know there

[1:30:37] are other emails and stuff for the state

[1:30:41] which I know that some of the stuff is still held there and federal stuff is

[1:30:47] held there which will also come down to the state let the unemployment being

[1:30:53] expanded and stuff like it are we putting out the same way that you can

[1:30:59] put this out the avenues for people to go to get help with that because the

[1:31:04] state and the federal is going to cover a lot of this yes also and I agree with

[1:31:10] you and probably every Commissioner here has

[1:31:14] gotten matured because you email this down yeah oh okay good but everybody

[1:31:23] here has gotten bombarded from me with all of this kind of relationship yes let

[1:31:28] advances on how to contact people zone and if I'm mistaken guys tell me but I

[1:31:34] think that sometimes I feel guilty about sending y'all over stop well it's fine

[1:31:40] the same but do we have it like at the Resource Center do we have all the

[1:31:45] information you send us i've looked about him I don't know I fear most of

[1:31:51] these are from being but it's all information like that and we had some

[1:31:55] other stuff from the state do we have that set up like at the Resource Center

[1:31:59] where people can can't access it or D where they sign up for unemployment

[1:32:04] stuff through BSA there's social services is that worthy no well that's

[1:32:11] to Employment Security Commission there are cables they're actually closed their

[1:32:15] offices here so they've closed here yeah so how do we help the people here that

[1:32:21] need to file for them and pull they have it their own one there's a state number

[1:32:25] but they call we need to get that out and and at this point Kevin is the

[1:32:36] Family Resource Center operating it is operating but I think we need to pour

[1:32:41] them back to the four eight eight three one nine eight number and also the two

[1:32:46] one one and also if they have questions about the kovat not team to do I heard

[1:32:51] we didn't see before they can get to text messaging I think those are the

[1:32:56] three outlets right now for the two one one this Resource Center is gonna be

[1:33:00] full on there for the food service so they're already on there for that also

[1:33:05] into one one it's going to point them toward the state resources for the

[1:33:09] unemployment insurance anything that they need for rent

[1:33:13] or estate services so I think we need to point them in those directions first and

[1:33:17] and what will be a filter I mean Dickey call the main number our main number at

[1:33:22] the at the courthouse weekend we'll be able to filter it around others what

[1:33:27] kept 45373 okay and then extensions for anyone they needed outdoor how do they

[1:33:34] get that I've I've listened to that and I find it extremely irritating but you

[1:33:39] know that's my person yeah we'll we'll try to get a press one

[1:33:44] so so they'll it'll it'll be in the first string on that on the telephone

[1:33:49] ring our tree I think I think you're a zero nut automatically comes to me

[1:33:54] anyway yeah so we'll handle that in here okay okay that's taken care of in house

[1:33:59] anything else that you just know that's it and well the volunteer list if you

[1:34:07] tried to get started before that we were in the process of making no it's been a

[1:34:11] while since we talked about it do you have anything if I'd like to see some of

[1:34:19] our communities be even if there's anybody on that list I think we go back

[1:34:26] to to the county manager and just simply say because that was one family resource

[1:34:33] so they need they do being open and they knew that people

[1:34:37] didn't need to be able to know that number yeah anything else I just want

[1:34:48] that yeah we had two people coming here talking about closing the county day

[1:34:52] long it's kind of I don't know exactly what all that looks like I know Graham

[1:34:59] County's looking at shutting us down I don't know if that's gonna happen on

[1:35:02] earth at I think there's some hit kept in that row and so but I was list to

[1:35:14] come back set the county down it sounded less normal talk about setting the town

[1:35:19] down so that's what I wanted to clarify on that if we were still shut down it

[1:35:28] would be the county and not just the town right is that itself what I'm I

[1:35:31] mean if that's about later is that what we're looking at I mean that's that's

[1:35:39] that's what I wanted to know any action but this board replay the entire county

[1:35:43] town board has the authority under the jurisdiction to shut the borders the

[1:35:48] town as well should they choose to okay yeah that's discounted LaRose

[1:35:58] the municipality would be included in that also so and that's only but let me

[1:36:04] be clear that's only because they signed our state of emergency and they gave us

[1:36:11] the authority to do that within the borders of the city but otherwise they

[1:36:15] would not have we would not have that authority without their approval

[1:36:20] I know mayor Tom's not in here but I've been talking to him probably about every

[1:36:24] day to trying to keep mm-hmm I think he said the roofs are easier somewhere but

[1:36:31] but I think that that's clear that we have that authority as long as the major

[1:36:38] signs that he's paid oh yeah so that equals the axis

[1:37:11] as you told us last time sheriff that's that's a 24-hour job it's not just a you

[1:37:17] know go up there sit there for a couple hours and go home

[1:37:28] thank you well we hope that people can get record get a copy of this meeting so

[1:37:39] that they know that we are trying to stay on top of everything and that we

[1:37:42] have a lot more information and input and I am aware David that and I'm going

[1:37:52] to ask you rather than this year on this do you know where today Graham County is

[1:37:59] shutting its waters

[1:38:24] so

[1:38:29] Sharon access

[1:38:44] did you ever maybe some initiative is okay go ahead chair

[1:38:52] I'll talk to sheriff Guillaume several times sure this week about road closures

[1:38:59] as David said you're a Skyway polka damn and Fontana Dam that in that area inside

[1:39:08] Grand Canyon I thought ultimate you know field one set up inside Graham County we

[1:39:11] support you 100% right now we're not closing roads at Wayne County and that

[1:39:18] what you want to do go to deal the gap and close the roads are up there which

[1:39:21] is squarely in Fayette County so I think we might have that nipped in the bud

[1:39:28] Paul in Graham County I'm all for tonight's covers quick Curtis you see a

[1:39:34] necessity for a curfew as other counties have done

[1:39:37] I really don't write it right now the traffic volume really down our call

[1:39:48] volume is is really them at this time if we were having masses breaking in the

[1:39:54] enemies or carjacking or assaults and then I would probably see it differently

[1:39:59] but I thought this time I don't recommend it thank you Thank You sheriff

[1:40:05] of cooch I had one request of the flirt you sure

[1:40:10] I looked on the county's website there was my old phone number I had several

[1:40:16] years just along there would you update that to eight to eight

[1:40:20] seven three six three seven zero two but I think it would be good

[1:40:26] Madame clerk if you would just take a look at the whole page and see what

[1:40:30] needs to be updated on the website is I don't I'm not looked at him and they do

[1:40:38] but it may be re on there like the coded nineteen the forty nine one three one

[1:40:45] nine eight for the Health Department is there like a like a section where people

[1:40:50] can go on their if they're okay and they'll give those resources as well as

[1:41:05] they YouTube channel it's you guys have started to get that things okay great

[1:41:09] thank you Thank You mr. chairman I just like to coming into closing type of

[1:41:18] statement I think when you come go through a crisis like we're going

[1:41:23] through right now it brings out the character of the county and I want us to

[1:41:28] be when this is over look back and say it's this county handled this with class

[1:41:32] and character I would like to state you know some of the simple most obvious

[1:41:37] things it seems like it shouldn't even need to be said but you know if you're

[1:41:42] sick your stay home if you're around somebody that's been sick just stay home

[1:41:46] if you are afraid of becoming sick and have compromised system stay home and

[1:41:53] I'd like to add with that then also please check on your neighbor please

[1:41:57] check on your family take care of each other and we will get through this and

[1:42:02] we will look back and we'll have a sense of pride how we handle this as a

[1:42:06] community and as a county thank you very much well said

[1:42:12] sit our next week one of the things Roger that if there is humor in this I

[1:42:22] think it was the toilet paper for tea and the CDC has said the best you can do

[1:42:33] is wash your hands with soap and water there's none better run on the soap the

[1:42:39] second best thing that you can do is have some hand sanitizer there's not

[1:42:44] been a run on hand sanitizer although a couple of things have happened that I

[1:42:50] think is is important and that's that the

[1:42:59] National Information and sometimes one of the things that I keep thinking about

[1:43:48] is how many of us in our churches and individually have praised that we find a

[1:43:57] way to pull our families back together we've got it I used to complain

[1:44:02] seriously about the cellphone and how it's taken over our lives but in

[1:44:09] self-isolation I'm not cut off from the world I've got my cell phone and I think

[1:44:16] that's a blessing in itself so so I've had to stop and rethink everything that

[1:44:21] I thought was important another point okay let's sit on next meeting when when

[1:44:27] do you guys want to come in and and David I will ask you and how much time

[1:44:31] do you think ends here how much time do you think we need for you to get a grip

[1:44:36] on what's going on as far as our

[1:44:43] Challenge and getting the people out you know we've got a lot of people out there

[1:44:48] who who do call me and tell me that they've spotted out-of-state cars you

[1:44:55] know but we need to be more judicious as commissioners and how we respond to that

[1:45:03] and how would give get it going David I think it's gonna take a few days

[1:45:07] to see how successful we are Monday morning would they be too early for us

[1:45:14] to gather information and get back with you but early next week we'll probably

[1:45:21] will need to talk about I didn't find some of the things are essential and not

[1:45:26] going to have a number of questions by the end so you know I'll bet I didn't

[1:45:31] lead on nothing maybe after they okay do you think Wednesday or Friday I mean

[1:45:42] like what I could keep saying this thing keeps changing their daily if but we're

[1:45:48] counting on your team to keep us updated as to what's going on so from your

[1:45:54] recommendation would you say Friday would you say Wednesday I mean I realize

[1:46:00] Monday is too soon I mean it is for unit 4 lot of stuff

[1:46:07] without that the finalist in our hand I don't know really how to answer that

[1:46:14] it's gonna take a little bit of time we're gonna have free organize our whole

[1:46:19] shift pattern now and do some things and it's just probably Friday okay it was a

[1:46:28] little bit of live in any one sure okay well what we will do Sheriff as far as

[1:46:33] some of this list we can talk to the county manager over the phone and in

[1:46:38] other ways to communicate and get some ideas together from us as well as from

[1:46:43] him as to what would what may be entailed in that list and just keep you

[1:46:47] federal that information so you have a general idea of what's going on until we

[1:46:52] meet and formalize it and the committee can be anytime if we see something that

[1:46:59] that's progressing or not addressing them exactly I mean we've got to do the

[1:47:09] communication thing what do they call a lek tronic communications we've got it

[1:47:13] we've just got to pick up on that and do that that's but when they do when the

[1:47:17] committee down two of us can go to that yes about having a call public meeting

[1:47:23] then if anybody felt comfortable on going to there if I can see team meeting

[1:47:32] your time I mean you have to go this time to go and if we need to calm or

[1:47:37] maintenance to get information to us it needs to make the meet did any time a

[1:47:42] couple others shouldn't probably go over shouldn't we should yeah that is that's

[1:47:48] personal call but one of the things that I will ask you to do is coordinate that

[1:47:52] with Cindy Cindy doesn't have enough to now so we're gonna give her some more

[1:47:56] today but coordinate that with Cindy so that we don't we are not in violation of

[1:48:01] law ourselves yeah if mr. Chairman I I was under the

[1:48:06] impression that we were going to meet at 1:00 o'clock Monday that this would give

[1:48:13] us the weekend to see how this supplement that we just passed went see

[1:48:19] what clarifications we need on this supplement to be able to give to the

[1:48:24] Sheriff's Department and others so I was of that impression that we had agreed or

[1:48:28] we're going to meet at 1:00 o'clock Monday is that we're going to make a

[1:48:31] motion in just a minute as to when that will be

[1:48:35] and I think them coming to us with new information or recommendations does not

[1:48:45] supersede on our ability to meet any time they want it and I just was under

[1:48:51] the impression that seemed like the if suddenly was I was thinking we were

[1:48:54] leaning toward Monday and then I was hearing that we started leaning toward

[1:48:58] Friday and I I was confused possess all we had been leaning toward Bundy good

[1:49:02] clarification because I think one of the commissioners gave the Monday date and

[1:49:06] you know last time we acted on that without even going any harder than that

[1:49:10] and this is what I'm walk down with the recommendation from our team to this

[1:49:15] board for this board to make a determination

[1:49:18] [Music] to me not an individual and the

[1:49:22] recommendation and I have about meeting on Friday were just so we could gather

[1:49:27] more information about the order from a young lady working

[1:49:33] yeah I recommend we made on Monday as commissioners would even if they don't

[1:49:39] have this altogether that's fine because my house equation in the form of a

[1:49:43] motion I make a motion we leave Monday at 1 o'clock okay thank you thank you

[1:49:48] we've got a motion on the floor for a meeting at Monday morning at 9 o'clock

[1:49:52] what what 1 o'clock okay thank you meeting on Monday at 1 o'clock and if if

[1:50:02] the emergency team is not ready to come to us they don't have to show for that

[1:50:06] meeting we'll have some other stuff to discuss okay

[1:50:10] just something just think you guys understand and that's my understanding

[1:50:13] of this motion they might go yeah if they don't have they need to probably

[1:50:17] show up anybody because then we might have some information they need I just

[1:50:22] call I just I don't think we would have your recommendations to change anything

[1:50:25] on Monday bring you questions about okay good yeah I've emotional before I need a

[1:50:34] second I'll second the motion we meant Monday at 1:00 a thought okay Monday at

[1:50:38] 1:00 o'clock a motion in a second on the floor all those in favor raise your

[1:50:43] right hand okay and that is passed unanimously

[1:50:50] any other items of importance of extreme importance

[1:50:57] are we ready to close this meeting then I will entertain a motion to end this

[1:51:06] meeting at this time most of during which term second we've got a motion in

[1:51:12] a second on the floor to adjourn all those in favor please raise your right

[1:51:15] hand

Swain County Board of Commissioners; Special Session, March 27, 2020

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