Coronavirus effects prompt County budget amendment

DAYTON–The 2020-21 Columbia County budget has been impacted by COVID-19, and therefore adjustments have been needed to be made, and the Public Health Department is collaborating with the Dayton School District to manage the opening of the 2020-21 school year. County Commissioners recently amended the annual budget with reductions totaling $209,656, and School District Directors heard that Dayton Schools are taking steps to meet physical distancing requirements so school can start on schedule.

Columbia County is expecting to receive a payment from FEMA for COVID for $150,000, a CARES Grant from the U.S. Treasury is anticipated, Commissioners heard at a recent meeting.

The amendment was presented by County Auditor Anne Higgins.

Martha Lanman, Public Health Administrator, reported that as of July 20, there have been 339 tested with an additional new positive case over the weekend, bringing the County to two current positive cases, both recovering at home. According to Public Health, there have been eight positive individuals, all recovered. Two out-of-county cases have recovered. There have been 329 negative tests performed in the county.

The latest positive was an individual under 50 years old. Public Health is working on contact tracing for the newest case.

Governor Jay Inslee tightened restrictions for counties in Phase 3 only allowing groups of ten people or less, rolling back from allowing 50 or less. Lanman stated the intention is to help with bringing down numbers before schools start.

She is working with the state and the schools for opening following current guidelines. A plan of the use of only face shields is “not adequate,” Lanman said. “They are looking at face shields to fifth grade, but I think they’re looking at face shields and face masks. So, if they’re teaching reading or spelling or something, they need to see their mouth and how they pronounce the words. Then they’ll use face shields some part of the day, but they also have masks. The face shields would stay at school.

“The state has ordered masks for all the kids,” Lanman said. “We’re also going to take some of the donated ones we have, so we have some there for the teachers to get started.”

Lanman said that she wanted to avoid the “worst case scenario of open up, shutdown.”

In a related matter, Superintendent Guy Strot reported at the most recent Dayton School Board meeting, about getting school ready for next fall.

“John Delp and his crew and many of our teachers have done a great job of starting to visualize and actually work on how we’re going to get desks six feet apart,” Strot informed School Directors.

“At first glance, it may not look like a lot of work but if…you have circle for this, you have a huge bookcase for this, you have a rug for reading time and now all those things are gone in order to put the desks six feet apart. And so, there’s been a lot of work done and I certainly appreciate it.

“They have staged three classrooms,” Strot continued. “There is nothing at this point that is going to keep us from opening on time and full time with all students. This is an ever-changing environment.”

Strot said that he has been meeting with Lanman and “will meet many more times…she’s going to be a great partner for us. I think we’re both focused on how we can keep staff safe, students safe, minimize the risks while still getting them back in class.” Strot reported that there are still unanswered questions in regard to sports, PE and music.

During the last two regular meetings, County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed the possibility of allowing the public weigh in on the proposed creation of a fifty-first State to be named Liberty by putting it up for advisory vote. The new state line would separate from western Washington by following the crest of the Cascade Mountains.

This effort is put forth by the Liberty State Movement and the idea of a vote was presented earlier this month along with a petition of 30 signatures to the commissioners by Dannette Boylard, a representative of the movement.

At the end of the July 20 meeting, the BOCC decided not move forward with supporting an advisory vote because Commissioner Rundell stated that the group has other means of getting it on a ballot without it being paid for by the county.