The Escambia County (Ala.) Commission will meet Monday morning with at least one issue on the agenda dealing with the upswing of positive COVID-19 cases in the county.
During an administrative workshop Tuesday afternoon, Emergency Management Agency Director David Adams said he had checked with other counties and each is doing something different.
“I was not able to get clear-cut guidance,” Adams told the commission.
He said some counties are requiring temperature checks and others are requiring questionnaires for people entering public buildings.
Commission Chairman Karean Reynolds said on Monday Circuit Judge Dave Jordan issued an administrative order that requires people coming to the second floor to have their temperature checked and wear masks.
He said employees on the first floor of the courthouse questioned the move since none of those polices are in place for the offices on that floor. Reynolds did note the judges are paying for the employee to do the temperature checks. He also noted that the Brewton YMCA requires temperature checks for everyone entering the building.
Commissioner Raymond Wiggins said if the county is going to do something along those lines, it needs to be done county-wide to include the courthouse, the Atmore satellite building and all county-buildings.
Adams said as an employee it wouldn't bother him to be checked every day, but said others may have a problem.
Reynolds also said it sends a bad message to people on the first floor that more safety protocols are being required on the second floor.
Commissioner Scottie Stewart said he would support additional testing and masks before the county shuts down the courthouse again.
The commission did agree to add an item to Monday's agenda to possibly reinstate its emergency order that allows for the chairman, vice chairman and County Clerk-Administrator to make decisions on behalf of the entire commission.
The commission implemented the order several months ago when the pandemic first began spreading and the board could not meet face-to-face. It rescinded the order at its last meeting, which now requires the entire commission to vote on issues.
Commissioner Stewart said if the commission can meet as an entire board, he would prefer that. Chairman Reynolds noted that with Commissioner David Stokes recovering from surgery and scheduled to resign it leaves the board with four members. If two get sick and can't attend a meeting, the commission wouldn't have quorum to vote.
