COVID-19 funds help include fairgrounds in Phase I broadband construction

POMEROY––Garfield County Commissioner Justin Dixon believes the county can cover the $80,000 additional cost to include the Garfield County Fairgrounds in the Port of Garfield’s Phase 1 broadband system construction from the COVID-19 funds.

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) are currently in discussions with the Port of Garfield to have the Fairgrounds included in Phase 1 of the broadband system at a special meeting June 29 2020.

Port Director Diana Ruchert, previously informed the County Commissioners that there would not be enough funds from the grant under which they are operating to install the broadband system all the way to the fairgrounds. It would have to be included in the next phase, unless the County wanted to contribute about $80,000 to the project. Dixon believes that there may be enough funds from the COVID-19 funding to cover the cost, and that it would be an expense covered under the funding requirements. The COVID-19 funds must be spent by October 31, 2020, or be returned.

The County has finalized their re-opening safety plan, which was sent out to all department heads the week of June 22, 2020, with no requests for changes. The plan is a document that will most likely be subject to change as things progress, according to Dixon. Therefore, it does not have to be made official by board vote, but must be available to the public upon request.

Commissioner Wynne McCabe reported that he had heard some news that some counties may be able to apply for a modified version of Phase 4 of the Governor’s “Safe Start” plan. In a press update from the Governor’s office, on June 27, 2020, Secretary of Health, John Wiesman stated that within the following two weeks, he would be working with the governor to “assess the need for a modified approach for moving beyond Phase 3,” and would release that decision when the information is available.

The board received Cody Bye’s letter of resignation as a Library Board Trustee which was approved. The Library Board has already begun the search for a replacement for the remaining term of the vacated seat.

At the next meeting of the County Commissioners, if in-person visitors are allowed, the new U.S. Forest Service District Ranger will be in attendance to meet with the commissioners. If not allowed to attend in person, the meet-and-greet will be postponed for another time.

The next meeting of the County Commissioners will be Monday, July 6, 2020, at 9 a.m., and should be accessible to the public by teleconference.