Iron County declares a state of emergency

HURLEY — Following the declaration of a state of emergency, the Iron County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution regarding COVID-19, or the coronavirus pandemic, Monday.

After Iron County Board Chairman Joe Pinardi declared a state of emergency, the board passed a resolution “providing county administration emergency administrative flexibility in responding to COVID-19.”

The resolution allows Pinardi — in consultation with a newly formed administrative committee — to take actions needed to respond to the pandemic, with the resolution listing examples as possibly: limiting access to Iron County buildings, making “strategic staffing changes” to ensure critical services can be provided and waiving administrative policies regarding health insurance premium splits.

The administrative committee consists of Emergency Management Director Stacy Ofstad, Human Services Director Cally Kilger, Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich, Iron County Health Officer Katy Hampston, Highway Commissioner Mike Swartz, Iron County Forest Administrator Eric Peterson and Iron County Clerk Mike Saari.

The resolution, which will expire in 60 days unless the board extends it, requires Pinardi inform county board members of his decisions within 24 hours of any actions he takes.

Although the Iron County Courthouse is remaining open to the public, Pinardi said this could change at anytime as county officials continued to monitor the fluid situation around the country.

“When the (threat) elevation gets higher, we’ll adjust it accordingly. But for right now, it’s (still open to the public),” Pinardi said during the meeting.

Even though the courthouse remains open, he encouraged residents to try and avoid the courthouse and use alternate means of handling business with county offices if possible in an effort to minimize traffic in the courthouse.

Along with passing the resolution, the board agreed that any county employees who travel beyond what’s required for their daily operation of their jobs will be required to go into a precautionary 14-day quarantine before returning to work.

Any employees who are quarantined will either use their own sick days or take days from the county’s established sick day bank while they are away from work.

Pinardi said the county doesn’t want anyone to come to work early because they don’t have the sick days and want to avoid the loss of income.

The board also encouraged employees consider working from home if possible.