HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Commissioners - Minutes - 03/31/2020
OTTERTAIL
COUNTY· MINNESOTA
MINUTES OF THE
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Special Meeting Regarding COVID-19
Government Services Center, Commissioners' Room & Via GoToMeeting
515 West Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN
March 31, 2020
9:00a.m.
Call to Order
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened at 9:02 a.m . Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at the Government
Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN and via GoToMeeting for a special meeting regarding COVID-19. Commissioners Lee
Rogness, Chair; and John Lindquist were present in the room . Commissioners Betty Murphy, Vice-Chair, Wayne Johnson,
and Doug Huebsch were present via GoToMeeting. The meeting was held via GoToMeeting due to the health pandemic
and declared emergency in accordance with Minn. Stat. Sec. 13D.021 .
County Wide Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Emergency Management Director Patrick Waletzko provided a brief update to the Board regarding the countywide EOC.
A donations and collections program for personal protective equipment (PPE) has been launched and two (2) donations
have been received thus far and will be redistributed throughout the region where needed. The EOC continues to identify
sites for a variety of purposes and expand community outreach to provide updated information to the public. Mr.
Waletzko reviewed a document with the Commissioners briefly outlining the County Emergency Operations Plan and
the Public Health Emergency Preparedness.
Public Health Update
Public Health Director Jody lien reported that Otter Tail County has been notified of its first lab confirmed case of COVID-
19. Minnesota has had 576 lab confirmed cases, of which 260 no longer require isolation, and ten (1 O) deaths. Because
the virus is community spread and not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, public health preventions and following the stay
at home order are vital in reducing the spread of the virus. Specific details or locations for tested patients will not be
released due to patient privacy. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) conducts a contact investigation and tracing
for lab confirmed cases and will contact individuals directly if they are determined to be in close contact with the person
testing positive. Individuals concerned they have been exposed should monitor themselves for 14 days following
exposure and utilize the MDH hotline and website. The Public Health EOC continues to operate and is monitoring the
status of health-related facilities and organizations. Ms. Lien provided a brief overview of overarching public health
incident objectives and plans within the public health department. A pre-identified pool will be created consisting of
Minnesota Responds volunteers not in the high risk category and are willing and able to assist if needed. Approximately
450 volunteers serve in the region, of which 85 are located in Otter Tail County.
Internal Operations
County Administrator Nicole Hansen provided a brief overview of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA),
which is a new federal law enacted to provide paid leave in a public health emergency. The FFCRA is in effect beginning
April 1, 2020, and Human Resources will provide information about the new law to all staff as well as ensure it is
implemented properly for employees that are eligible.
Special Meetings
The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners' plan to hold special meetings related to COVID-19 every Tuesday and
Friday at 9:00 a.m. via GoToMeeting . Regularly scheduled Board meetings will start at 8:30 a.m . as posted .
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Board of Commissioners' Special Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2020
Motion by Johnson, second by Lindquist to hold a special meeting on April 9th at 9:00 a.m. via GoToMeeting in place of
Friday, April 10th due to the Good Friday Holiday. After discussion, the motion passed on a roll call vote as follows:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS YEA NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN
Doug Huebsch X
Wayne Johnson X
John Lindquist X
Betty Murphy X
Leland Rogness X
Adjournment
At 9:31 a.m., Chair Rogness declared the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners meeting adjourned for a closed session
authorized under Minn. Stat. 13D.05, Subd . 3(d) regarding security and emergency response procedures for COVID-19 .
Present in the room were Commissioners; Lee Rogness, Chair; John Lindquist and County Administrator Nicole Hansen .
Present via GoToMeeting were Commissioners; Betty Murphy, Vice Chair; Wayne Johnson, Doug Huebsch, Emergency
Management Director Patrick Waletzko, Public Health Director Jody Lien, Human Services Director Deb Sjostrom, Deputy
Administrator Nick Leonard, Public Works Director Rick West, County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons, County Attorney Michelle
Eldien, County Auditor-Treasurer Wayne Stein, Karen Moser, Minnesota Department of Health, Kent Mattson, Lake Region
Healthcare, and Chuck Hofius, Perham Sanford Health . The next regular Board meeting is scheduled at 8:30 a.m . on
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, via GoToMeeting.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
By: _________________ _
Leland R. Rogness, Board of Commissioners Chair
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Dated: ______________ _
Attest: ______________ _
Nicole Hansen, Clerk