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Washington County officials outline CARES Act spending limits, suggest COVID coordinator and plan hybrid June 1 meeting
Summary
County Manager Curtis Potter and emergency/health staff updated commissioners on COVID-19 and CARES Act guidance May 18; Potter recommended creating a temporary COVID-19 coordinator position, said some CARES Act uses (including hazard pay) are not allowed for county staff, and described hybrid meeting logistics for June 1.
County Manager Curtis Potter, MTW Health Department Director Wes Gray and Emergency Management Coordinator Lance Swindell briefed the Washington County Board of Commissioners on May 18 about COVID-19 coordination and CARES Act funding restrictions.
Potter said staff is compiling a list of reimbursable expenses and suggested hiring a temporary COVID-19 coordinator for approximately six months to manage claims and compliance. He warned that federal CARES Act guidance limits allowable spending: "The money cannot be used for time of staff," Potter said, adding that requests for hazard pay could not be paid from CARES Act funds, "not even for the County's paramedics." He also noted that the Budget Officer and Finance Officer could be held liable for improper uses of funds.
Commissioner Johnson said she had explored using some CARES Act funds to address broadband gaps but was told that would not be allowable; she asked staff to consider alternative uses such as supporting the food bank or Meals on Wheels. Potter said he had shared CARES Act information with the towns and was checking whether the county had eligible expenses.
Chair D. Cole Phelps and Potter described safety protocols for the June 1 commissioners' meeting: commissioners will be spaced and masked, only 10 members of the public will be allowed in the commissioners' room with controlled access and a sign-up process, sidewalks and seating will be marked for 6-foot distancing, and the meeting will be streamed on the county's Facebook page for remote viewers.
The commissioners agreed to convene the public hearing on the budget on June 1 using the hybrid format and asked staff to publish notice in the Roanoke Beacon and manage advance sign-ups for public comment.
