Coronavirus: Go virtual at meetings, county told

County business may have to go virtual during the Covid-19 crisis.

On Thursday, the County Commission voted to amend the county charter to pave the way for remote meetings.

Thursday’s meeting was streamed on the county’s website, but commissioners were physically present in the same room.

County Attorney Joel Foreman explained that as long as they were in the same room together for an official meeting, the public had to be allowed to attend.

“We can’t meet in person and have the public attend virtually,” Foreman said. “It’s either/or.”

However, the state’s safer-at-home order, which went into effect at midnight, doesn’t consider attending public meetings an essential activity, Foreman said.

So the county can’t turn away members of the public for meetings, but also can’t have more than 10 people in the same room.

There are five commissioners, plus the clerk and the person who handles the audio equipment, 

leaving not much space for others to attend, said Commissioner Ron Williams.

Without going fully virtual, the county would be unable to have public hearings, which are required to adopt ordinances, Foreman said.

“The idea of this is to cover your bases,” Foreman said.

Commission Chairman Toby Witt was hesitant, saying the county was in a “unique” position due to the size of the auditorium in which meetings are held.

“I don’t think one directive from the state covers every circumstance,” Witt said. “I think the government needs to continue to function, especially during this. That’s going to make or break our recovery when this is over.”

But Foreman re-explained the situation, getting all commissioners on board with an unanimous vote to amend the charter to provide mechanisms for virtual meetings.