The COVID-19 problem in the Carroll County Courthouse has been growing since last week’s election – if not before. Two offices were closed and another was short-staffed because of the need to isolate the elected official who operates it.
So, seemingly without warning and without discussion, Commissioner Bill Brown decided Tuesday afternoon to close the doors at the end of the day. The decision came as a surprise to several in the courthouse. In fact, it left some department heads in a lurch.
Who is supposed to be working and who is not? It seems employees do not know. Is the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director supposed to work from home? How about the Area Plan Commission’s Zoning Administrator? Or are they supposed to come into the closed courthouse? If they are to work from home, it would seem they need time to gather what they need to be able to work from home.
Is there supposed to be someone in the Recorder’s office to record deeds and property issues (because they are still happening, whether or not the county is open)? How about the Assessor’s office? And what about the Highway Department? Are they working?
No one seems to know what is going on. This is just plain, bad governance. This virus has been around for months now, why no plan? Courthouse staff and the community would be well served to know ahead of time what to expect in the event of a closure.
Nearly 15 bidders were in the courthouse Tuesday just before noon to bid on building all or part of the proposed new jail. We wonder what those people will think when they learn that just a few short hours later, Commissioner Brown decided the courthouse is too contaminated for anyone to be in.
And it’s not just the courthouse. The trash transfer station was closed last week due to COVID-19 issues and there was no message on the phone, no signage, nothing on the county website, nothing in the Comet explaining the temporary closure. Wasted trips are frustrating and time consuming.
It should not be too much to ask of our elected leaders for some forethought and communication when making closure decisions. County employees and the public would be most appreciative.
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