The Gray County commissioners court met on Monday afternoon for a quick meeting to expand on county judge Chris Porter’s emergency declaration made last week.
The meeting was held on the south lawn of the Gray County Courthouse as the recent COVID-19 crisis has prompted the closure of the courthouse.
“On Wednesday I put our county into an emergency management declaration and our commission has to expand that,” Porter said. “The time period is 30, 60, 45 or 90 days.”
The votes were affirmed solely by voice given the situation. Commissioner Joe Wheeley made the motion, but before any other action could be taken, commissioner Jeff Haley asked for Porter to further explain what the County can or can’t do under the declaration.
“Basically that extends the county government to do what’s necessary to protect the citizenry,” Porter said. “It also allows us to get into funding for federal and state queues because it we are in an emergency situation. It gives the county judge some powers that, if necessary, can be used. But it’s not extraordinary, I can’t put martial law in the county or anything like that.”
Wheeley said the declaration of 30 days is optimistic and the declaration could be extended or shortened by a commission vote. The motion carried unanimously.
The second part of the motion was to approve the appointment of Kevin Sieck to be the Gray County health authority.
Porter said he has been serving in that capacity under an emergency provision, but the County had to approve the appointment.
Jeff Haley made the motion and it was approved unanimously.
Porter said the County hopes the April 1 meeting will be held in their normal setting, but the COVID-19 situation has everything in flux.
