As COVID-19 restrictions are easing up throughout Wyoming, the Sweetwater County commissioners have started debating when they should open up the courthouse and other county buildings to public visitation.
Commissioner Randy Wendling asked the other commissioners about the possibility of reopening the courthouse. He said he’s looked at what other areas in Wyoming are doing and has seen everything from wide-reaching reopening orders to staggered openings. He also said he’s concerned about the possibility of a visitor with the COVID-19 virus infecting an entire office, causing employees to be quarantined and the work normally occurring within that office getting stopped.
“I don’t really see much of a difference between 30 to 40 people eating at The Hitching Post than a 150 to 200 people at Wal-Mart,” Commissioner Roy Lloyd said.
He said he would like to wait two weeks before re-examining the issue, saying he’s also worried about a contact quarantine occurring within one of the county offices.
Commissioner Johnson disagreed with Lloyd, saying they should open the buildings with forethought as to how workers could be protected.
“We need to take the lead,” Johnson said.
Johnson mentioned Lincoln County not having problems with its county courthouse remaining open despite similar buildings closing across the state, though he admits the courthouse in Sweetwater County is much different. Johnson also said he would be in favor of a soft opening, admitting he doesn’t know how the county would gradually increase public access to county services.
With Commissioners Lauren Schoenfeld and Jeffery Smith opting to listen to employee feedback before making a recommendation, Garry McLean, the county’s human resources director, said organizations would need a plan before reopening to the public, citing several issues that would need to be addressed.
While many of the county buildings had limited exposure to the public, he said the courthouse presents some unique challenges, such as the layout of the building and its multiple entrances. Another challenge are lines that form outside the clerk’s and treasurer’s offices.
“One of the things that everybody is concerned about ... is managing the people who congregate in groups outside the offices,” McLean said.
McLean said the courthouse would be able to open up whenever the commissioners were ready to do so, but advised that work regarding personal protective equipment and the building’s layout needed to be completed.
Gene Legerski, the county’s facility manager, said the hardest thing to do is guide traffic through the building, saying he’s worked with others inside the courthouse for the past three weeks regarding how they should reopen county buildings. His concern is if there is a rush of people coming to the courthouse and how they would handle the traffic and where people would have to go if they reached a building limit.
Robb Slaughter, the Sweetwater County Treasurer, voiced concerns his staff have about a reopening, suggesting it would be better to wait a week or two before moving forward. he said the office has been able to handle all of the work they typically accomplish despite being closed to the public and said he hasn’t received any complaints about how they’re conducting business. However, he said his employees have concerns about an opening as the summer months can result in about 1,500 personal contacts a week in Slaughter’s office.
“With all we’ve done in the last six weeks, it would be foolish to move ahead a little bit too soon,” he said.
Other department heads and elected officials voiced their concerns as well.
“We should open those door whenever we’re ready,” Johnson said. “We need to get this business started now.”
Johnson said if they couldn’t reopen the building immediately, they should start the process as soon as they can, telling the other commissioners the buildings are owned by the residents of Sweetwater County and the commissioners owe it to them to get the buildings opened as soon as they can.
Schoenfeld suggested hosting a special meeting next week and give the staff the time they need to prepare for a reopening.
Wendling said they should also look at the hospital availability and number of cases admitted to the hospital before opening up the courthouse. As of Tuesday, there is only one positive case of COVID-19 in the county.
“We’re in great shape. The only counties that are doing better are the ones that don’t have any,” Wendling said.
Legerski said he could have a plan to the county attorney’s office by the end of the week.
A special meeting will take place Monday at 8:30 a.m., to approve a reopening plan for core county buildings. Other county agencies such as the county library system are being encouraged by the commissioners to follow what the commissioners decide, but are leaving the decision with their independent boards.
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