COVID-19 vaccine moving off-site at some health department locations
Community, News September 20, 2021
GAINESVILLE – In anticipation of the upcoming flu season and to prepare for the approval of the COVID-19 booster dose for the general population, District 2 Health Departments will be re-opening some of its off-site COVID-19 mass vaccination sites.
Approval for the booster dose is still pending; however, starting Monday, September 20, Forsyth and Hall County will move to their designated off-site locations to begin administering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The district will not administer booster doses until approval and guidance is granted by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and FDA.
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will await recommendations from the CDC and ACIP before releasing a plan to administer booster doses of Pfizer COVID vaccine in Georgia. The FDA’s discussion and review of data about the need for COVID vaccine boosters is a first step in the process; the same questions will be considered by ACIP during meetings currently scheduled for Sept. 22-23. When CDC/ACIP provide recommendations and guidelines for booster shots, DPH has the inventory to quickly ramp up access to Pfizer COVID vaccine statewide.
“We anticipate an increase in traffic in our health departments with the administration of both the COVID booster dose and flu vaccine,” said Dr. Zachary Taylor, District 2 Public Health Director. “By moving our COVID-19 operation off-site, we will alleviate the influx of people inside our waiting rooms.”
Forsyth County Health Department will operate its COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Northside Forsyth Hospital, Suite 360, located at 1200 Northside Forsyth Dr. Cumming, GA 30041.
Hall County will operate its mass vaccine site from the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center, located at 1855 Calvary Church Rd., Gainesville, GA 30507.
The hours of operation for both sites are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Appointments are not required. If an individual prefers to schedule an appointment, they may do so using the VRAS scheduling system via the District 2 Public Health website. Hours of operation and locations may change due to demand. Reference the schedule of locations and hours posted on the public health website to ensure the vaccine site in your county is operational.
For more information on the COVID-19 booster dose visit the CDC website to learn more.
COVID-19 policy updates adopted by Fannin Commissioners
News September 16, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga: During the September 14, 2021, county meeting, Fannin County Commissioners enacted a new sick leave policy and approved taking bids for a new HVAC system due to COVID-19.
As COVID-19 outbreaks continue to occur, county employees continue to be affected. Quarantine measures require workers to stay home for up to two weeks, and not everyone can work from home. Additionally, some of these employees didn’t have sick leave accrued to cover that period.
14 Fannin County employees have been affected by COVID-19 since March 1. The majority of those without sick leave had time donated to cover their time out of the office. However, not everyone benefitted from others covering their time.
To help all county employees, Chairman Jamie Hensley proposed a resolution to ensure everyone can receive pay when out sick with COVID-19. The resolution is retroactive and goes into effect from March 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. It allows employees who are ill or need to take care of a sick family member suffering from COVID-19 to take time off under the Family First Coronavirus Response Act.
“This is a resolution to either give them their sick time back or pay them when they didn’t have a check coming in,” Hensley explained. “We’re here trying to right a wrong.”
The resolution has an option to be extended in January 2022 if COVID-19 continues to be an issue.
Post One Johnny Scearce, who experienced a brutal battle against the virus in 2020, agreed with helping out county employees.
“It will kick your butt,” Scearce stated, “Whatever we can do to help the people, period. I’m all for it…It’s the only Christian thing to do.”
Post Two Glenn Patterson also agreed with the measure.
The resolution has an additional COVID-19 leave which covers 14 days or two weeks of quarantine, 10 days symptomatic and 24 hours asymptomatic, negative test result, or if a coworker receives a negative test to follow CDC return to work guidelines.
Once an employee exhausts the FFCRA and Additional COVID-19 leave protocols, the only option to accrue more time is to present a positive COVID-19 test.
HVAC System
After an executive session, commissioners voted to bid out for a new smart HVAC system in accordance with American Rescue Plan guidelines. The system would be for the courthouse and jail.
American Rescue Act Plans would be used to purchase the system. Fannin accepted $2,543,356 in American Rescue Plans Act Funds at the June 8, 2021 meeting. The Federal government has strict guidelines for fund usage.
Fannin experiencing “significant increase” in COVID-19 cases
Community, News August 11, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Georgia’s currently ninth in the nation for rising COVID-19 cases and Fannin’s verified 89 new cases as of August 10 over two weeks.
In the previous 14-day report the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recorded 59 cases in Fannin County. On July 26, only 48 cases were documented over 14 days. If the trend continues, it’s likely August numbers will double from July.
Fannin Regional Hospital has seen a “significant increase” in COVID-19 cases.
“The number of tests that are coming back positive are now exceeding the number of positive tests from last winter,” EMA Director Robert Graham commented on the hospital’s case rates.
Additionally, Fannin Regional is finding more cases in younger individuals, but they appear to be milder.
Local area hospitals’ ICUs are full, and some patients are being kept in the ER for treatment. Statewide hospitals are reaching similar breaking points and transferring patients to other facilities.
Only 34 percent of Fannin County is fully vaccinated which is lower than neighboring counties.
“The sampling of tests statewide and its appearing that the majority of the cases, somewhere in the 80 percent range, they’re seeing the sampling is the Delta Variant,” Graham stated. “There’s also a Lambda Variant that’s starting to show up too. and they’re saying it’s even more contagious than the Delta Variant.”
The Delta Variant has proven to be more contagious than previous iterations of COVID-19. Some data on variant suggests more severe illness can result from infection than the original strain. According to the CDC, vaccinated individuals who experience a symptomatic breakthrough can transmit the virus to others. At this time, it’s unclear if an asymptomatic breakthrough can transmit it to others. Vaccinated people do appear to be infectious for a shorter amount of time.
Graham recommends people use common sense, follow the CDC guidelines, and when in stores or close contact with a group of people, wear a mask.
“They do say the vaccines are fairly effective against the variants, but they are seeing some breakthrough cases of people that actually get COVID that have had the vaccine. One group reported the vaccine is creating a better antibody than someone had actually had COVID,” Graham said.
Some breakthrough infections of COVID-19 are occurring among the vaccinated, but it’s a small portion. According to DPH, of the 4 million fully vaccinated, 0.12 percent have tested positive and 0.00058 percent have died.
Post One Johnny Scearce, who suffered from a lengthy battle with COVID-19 and related illness, confirmed that the vaccine has helped him.
“I would definitely recommend if somebody doesn’t have any other objections to it, definitely get the vaccine,” Graham commented.
Vaccine boosters are in the process, but no definitive word on the necessity of booster shots has come from the CDC, DPH, of NIH.
DPH is working on setting up a testing site closer to North Georgia again, most likely in Gilmer County.
“I think we all know somebody who has been affected by it,” Chairman Jamie Hensley added. “We know it’s a sickness, how bad it can be. We just have to work diligently.”
The courthouse is being regularly fogged to try and kill the virus. Also, all door handles and frequently touched surfaces are being sanitized throughout the day in all departments.
The recreation department will shut down the recreation center on Wednesdays to deep clean. It will open at 3 p.m.
Ask The Doc! Breast Implant Lymphoma and Throat Cancer
Lifestyle March 7, 2021
This morning, the doctors discuss Breast Implant Lymphoma. How common is it? Did the Surgeon make a mistake? The Doctors also touch on Throat Cancer of the Epiglottis. Is the treatment plan correct? The doctors also discuss Covid-19 and the vaccine. What’s True And What’s False? Which of the Vaccines is the most effective?
Ask The Doc! Types Of Breast Cancer And The Flu Season
Community February 28, 2021
This week, the doctors discuss the different types of breast cancer. They also touch on a question from a viewer regarding the treatment of their husband’s heart tumors. Is he getting the right treatment? What happened to Flu Season? What’s the latest on Covid-19? All this and more on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc: Long Term Effects of Surviving Cancer
Just For Fun, Lifestyle February 14, 2021
This week, Dr. Whaley and Dr. Raymond Tidman discuss some questions sent in by viewers. They touch on the long term effects of Cancer and some possible complications of surviving cancer. They also discuss how to know when you’re cured of cancer. Is there anyway to prevent future complications for cancer survivors? The doctors also discuss the current numbers of cancer survivors compared to in the past.
Positive news concerning COVID-19 in Fannin
News February 10, 2021
BLUE RIDGE, Ga: The status of COVID-19 in Fannin appears to be trending in the right direction as positive cases begin to drop and vaccine providers become more readily available.
According to EMA Director Robert Graham, 11 percent of tests are coming back positive, but the health department is no longer giving COVID-19 tests. As a result, the capacity for administering tests might have decreased. The state still considers Fannin to be a high transmission county.
The health department transitioned to providing vaccines and partnered with the Kiwanis Club to use their fairgrounds as a vaccine location. Five days a week, the health department takes scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the fairgrounds. However, no one can currently sign up for a vaccine reservation because the health department’s waiting on more vaccines.
Vaccine availability depends on national supply. North Georgia Health Department spokesperson stated “We urge residents who are eligible for the vaccine but have not yet registered for an appointment to monitor our website and social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates as additional appointment times become available. All existing appointments are still valid. ”
“Definitely want to thank the Kiwanis Club for working with us. I think it’s a testament to our community that we were able to reach out to someone like that, and they were more than gracious to help us out. We needed a large facility like that,” Chairman Jamie Hensley stated.
On Tuesday, February 9, Fannin had a total of 18,062 cases, with 133 confirmed over the last 14 days. The COVID-19 variant hasn’t reached the county yet. Health officials claimed the current vaccine protects against the variant as well.
At the Fannin Regional Hospital, 15 percent of total visits are COVID-19 related. ICU capacity is between 80 to 100 percent with extended stays in the unit. The hospital’s experiencing 70 percent capacity on the medical-surgical wing, but bed availability increased over the last 24 hours. On any given day, the pending positive cases for COVID-19 range from 30 percent to 80 percent.
On Tuesday, Fannin Regional issued 404 COVID-19 vaccines.
The state granted Fannin Fire and EMS vaccine provider status, and they’ve administered 522 doses with 600 doses order. However, half of the ordered amount will serve as second vaccinations.
“Whether we get it or not, I don’t know or how long it will be before we get it, but hopefully, we’ll get some of it coming in next week,” Graham said.
Fannin EMS’s list of individuals requesting the vaccine exceeds 270 as of Tuesday. More people call in each day.
Currently, only Phase1A+ Georgians can receive the vaccine, so people who are 65 and older, a caregiver of a senior citizen, healthcare workers, law enforcement, public safety, and first responders.
Once the state opens vaccine distribution to educators, Fannin EMS and schools have created a plan to vaccinate the district’s employees at the schools. To lighten the health department’s load, they’ve offered to vaccinate utility companies like Tri-State Electric.
Georgia’s setting up some mass vaccination sites around the state, but not close to Fannin for the moment, Graham added.
No one in the fire department, EMS, or 911 is currently COVID-19 positive. Graham believes it showcases the care his employees are taking with their health and others.
Georgia Mountains Health Services also offers the vaccine to patients who make an appointment.
Blue Ridge Police Chief Johnny Scearce comes home
Community, News February 4, 2021
Blue Ridge, Ga – Blue Ridge Police Chief officially came home on Tuesday, February 3, 2021, after his release from the hospital in January 2021.
Scearce, who’s also the Post One-elect for Fannin County, spent 94 days in the CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn. battling COVID-19 and related health conditions, including a collapsed lung and MRSA. Before contract COVID-19, he didn’t have any pre-existing conditions. The hospital released a video of Scearce’s honor walk upon being discharged. Nurses and doctors lined the halls to cheer him on.
He began therapy after leaving the hospital after spending four months either in a wheelchair or hospital bed. His rehab discharge date was February 3.
Individuals brought black and blue balloons in honor of Scearce. The balloons also represent law enforcement.
People turned out along 515 to support Scearce’s ride home. He received a police escort. The Blue Ridge and Fannin County community have stayed vigilant with their prayers for the police chief’s health. Prayer vigils and fundraisers were held for Scearce’s wellbeing.
The neighborhood took to social media to share in the joy of Scearce returning home. Speaker of the Georgia House and Fannin Representative David Ralston even commented about the event.
“Many prayers were answered today when City of Blue Ridge Police Department Chief Johnny Scearce came home. Chief Scearce’s battle with complications from the Covid-19 virus has been long and challenging. Through it all, he has fought bravely — as we would have expected. Our City of Blue Ridge, Georgia community, has demonstrated again its goodness with an outpouring of prayers and support for Johnny, Brenda, and the entire family. Chief, we are all happy beyond words today. Welcome home!”
Scearce’s still on the road to recovery, but returning home will indeed prove to be a great motivation and healer for him. Those interested in helping the Scearce family cover medical expenses can donate to an established GoFundMe.
Ask The Doc! Gastric Bypass Complications And Sarcomas
Lifestyle January 31, 2021
This morning, the Doctors discuss Gastric Bypass Surgery and its complications. When is this surgery needed? What are its complications? They also answer a question regarding a Sarcoma. Dr. Whaley discusses why you shouldn’t google medical information. They also discuss the latest vaccine news. Who should be receiving the vaccine?
Ask the Doc! Cologuards and the Lance Armstrong Shot
Community January 24, 2021
Dr. William Whaley has returned for the new year and is ready to answer your questions about colonoscopies vs the Cologuard test and the other about Myelodysplasia and the Lance Armstrong shot.
Public safety hazard pay motion dies on the table
News November 18, 2020
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – After a heated discussion concerning hazard pay for first responders, sheriff’s office, and EMS, the motion to approve $500 in funds failed to receive a vote.
Chairman Stan Helton didn’t accept the motion made by Post One Earl Johnson. The Chairman preferred to wait until a new board took office and let them handle the hazard pay matter.
“Nobody was going to be completely happy…and you’re this close to the end of the year. If someone gets bonus pay now, in a few months, they’ll have to pay taxes on it. After the first of the year, you’ll have a new board, you can sit down…Nobody is disputing the danger and dedication to this stuff,” Helton stated. “I’m through with the hazard pay thing.”
Previously, the Fannin Board of Commissioners had tabled the issue until more information became available or until the new administration took office in January 2021. In a last-minute move, Post Two Glenn Patterson asked for hazard pay and the White Path building to be included in the November meeting.
“They run toward the COVID while we try to stay away from it as much as they can, but when they took that job, they didn’t realize all the extra danger,” Patterson said. “I can’t believe we can’t find an extra $100 a month to give to these guys and ladies.”
Post One Earl Johnson expressed that he wasn’t for or against hazard pay and how he knew it would be a can-of-worms when first discussed months earlier. He wanted to know what the county could do legally before passing a measure.
“I asked Mrs. Doss what we can legally get,” Johnson said, “I don’t want people to misconstrue the fact and think that I don’t want people to get hazard pay. I wanted to find out what we can do legally.”
County Attorney Lynn Doss said, “There are certain categories that we know can be paid, which are first responders, the people that fall under sheriff’s office and emergency management services.”
She felt comfortable with offering hazard pay to that group of people.
County Attorney Lynn Doss
“The only decision I’m going to make is one that she feels confident is not going to come back in the future,” Johnson added. He wanted to ensure that the state doesn’t deny the county’s expense.
These individuals can receive hazard pay for their service during COVID-19, and Fannin County can apply to be reimbursed for this expense through the CARES Act. Department heads and elected officials are not eligible.
The earlier amount discussed for the public safety employees was $500 in hazard pay.
“I’m fine with the $500, and I’m fine with paying it to whoever we can legally pay with no future ramifications to this board,” Johnson stated.
Patterson then put the ball in Johnson’s court, saying he would second the motion if Johnson put it forth. Patterson was the commissioner who wanted to discuss the topic. However, Helton never asked for a motion.
“My concern on this hazard pay thing…is I don’t think you’re going to do anything other than create dissension with people. However, if you two gentlemen feel that we need to do $500 for whatever group that you want to make a motion,” Helton asserted. “It’s not an issue of what disserve is, but I feel at this point, I don’t want to make any decisions that don’t have to be made right now. I’m not going to do anything that hurts the new administration.”
Fannin received $1.3 million in CARES Act Funding. According to CFO Robin Gazaway, if the county included hazard pay and the other COVID-19 expenses, it would leave approximately $600,000.
Around 100 people would receive the intended hazard pay.
At a previous meeting, EMA Director Robert Graham and Fire Chief Larry Thomas presented a breakdown of the amount of hazard pay per call for volunteers. The county could choose to include or exclude volunteers.
After another five minutes of discussion, Patterson backed down from making a motion, but Johnson decided to go ahead with the measure.
“I make a motion that we pay $500 to every first responder that the county attorney Lynn Doss outlines are eligible to receive it,” Johnson said.
“With the numbers that have been thrown out here, the kind of expense that is, no. The only motion I want to ask for is one to adjourn this meeting,” Helton finalized
According to the document on the ACCG website, published on August 17, 2020, hazard pay is 100 percent reimbursable for public health and public safety employees. However, hazard pay can’t be retroactively awarded. Therefore, if a county paid a few months of hazardous duty pay to public safety and then discontinued it because of lack of funds or never paid hazardous duty pay because of lack of funds, they can’t retroactively pay it for part or all of the time period.
The document also outlines that “Treasury guidance allows state and local governments to presume that 100 percent of public safety payroll costs are dedicated to COVID-19 response during the eligible spending period to streamline the administrative burden of accounting for expenses.”
Public safety employees include EMS, first responders, firefighters, or locally paid emergency medical personnel.
As for detention center or jailers, ACCG lists: “Yes, Treasury guidance provides that jail and detention center staff performing a substantially different role due to social distancing enforcement or additional sanitizing requirements would be eligible for CRF funding.”
County employees not eligible are administrative staff unless job duties are substantially different. Teleworking isn’t a reimbursable expense.
All Special Events Canceled for City of Blue Ridge
City Council, Community, Downtown Blue Ridge, Festivals, News October 21, 2020
Blue Ridge, Ga. – In an unanimous vote the Blue Ridge City Council decided that any special events within the city limits will be canceled until further notice. This includes the cancelation of Blue Ridge’s Halloween SafeZone and Light Up Blue Ridge.
Discussion of canceling future events for the remainder of the year had previously taken place among council but no official vote had been made on the matter.
Blue Ridge Halloween SafeZone 2019
“We need to make it official,” Council member Rhonda Haight spoke, referencing that since their previous discussion special events had been permitted to take place: “I felt like we should have voted last time.”
Mayor Donna Whitener expressed that she didn’t fully agree with the idea of canceling all events with no exceptions and pointed out that the recent prayer vigil held for Blue Ridge Chief of Police Johnny Scearce would technically fall under the special event category.
Haight made the motion of “no more events allowed until further notice”, which carried without opposition.
Although the Halloween SafeZone has been canceled an alternative has been set up according to Cesar Martinez, President of the Blue Ridge Business Association (BRBA).
“We get 5,000 or 6,000 people downtown and we just can’t do it this year,” Martinez said and noted that state guidelines would just not make it feasible for the city to accommodate.
The BRBA will be partnering with Blue Ridge United Methodist Church to offer a drive thru option for families to enjoy. Booths will be set up along this route, where participants can hand out candy.
Lighting of the Tree – Photo courtesy of Light Up Blue Ridge Facebook Page
Other locations that are offering Halloween festivities include Dairy Queen, Home Depot, and Kevin Panter Insurance Agency.
Light Up Blue Ridge will also not take place in an official manner. Festivities of the weekend that draw a large crowd in close proximity have been called off. This includes the annual parade and the lighting of the tree.
Even with these changes, Blue Ridge plans to make the city Christmas ready for those visiting the weekend following Thanksgiving.
The tree will be lit in the park but without the lighting ceremony and Santa can still be found at the park’s gazebo but with safety precautions made due to the ongoing Covid-19 risk.
“We are suggesting that the city close East Main Street for the two days after Thanksgiving,” Martinez recommended to the council stating that this would give more room for the large crowds to social distance that weekend.
No official plans were made on how to handle the influx of visitors for the weekend following Thanksgiving, but discussions are expected to continue in future meetings.
Author
Ask The Doc! Fighting Off Covid-19
Community, Lifestyle October 2, 2020
This morning, The doctors address a comment left on one of the Ask The Doc Segments. What drugs are good for fighting off Covid-19 or do we just wait on a vaccine? The Doctors also address the President and first lady testing positive for Covid-19. What do the Doctors have to say about testing positive with no symptoms? When could he have contracted the virus? How long has he had it? All this and more on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc! College And Covid-19
Lifestyle September 28, 2020
This morning, the doctors discuss how colleges are dealing with Covid-19. When a Student tests positive, the colleges continue classes and give the infected student their own quarantined dorm. Is this the approach we should be taking with everything? Should we worry over the numbers? Hear Doctor Whaley and Doctor Tidman’s point of view on this right here on Ask the Doc!
City takes precautions against COVID-19 as police chief fights the virus
News September 18, 2020
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – City continues to take preventative measures against COVID-19 as Police Chief and Post One Commissioner Candidate Johnny Scearce battles the virus from the hospital.
According to Mayor Donna Whitener, they have increased cleaning protocols and continue to be vigilant against COVID-19 with temperature checks, masks, and rotating office schedules.
Sources are saying that Scearce is currently in ICU and on a ventalilator. It’s a turn from yesterday when he was still in a regular room. The Scearce family asks for prayers of healing. Everyone at FYN is keeping Chief Scearce in our thoughts and prayers.
Anyone who encountered Scearce received notification and testing for the virus; only two came back positive. City hall and the police department previously instituted half-on/half-off scheduling to prevent the virus from infecting everyone at once. In the police department, Team A never interacts with Team B. The rotating schedule eliminates potential exposure, and officers don’t share materials or equipment. Also, they can perform most of their duties from their patrol cars.
However, Whitener stressed that the virus affects younger and healthy individuals, not just the older population. In Georgia, approximately 215,519 confirmed cases fall between the 18-59 age group, and 56,522 cases fall into the 60 to 80+ range. The mortality rate continues to affect the elderly predominately.
The 18 to 22 category continues to grow while children COVID-19 cases appear to be trending down.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from a headache and a loss of taste to an inability to breathe on one’s own. If anyone experiences the following symptoms, speak with a doctor to determine if a COVID-19 test is necessary.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
The Georgie Department of Public Health has marked Fannin County with high transmission indicators. These indicators represent counties with a 14-day cases rate is greater than 100 cases per 100,000 residents, greater than 10 cases during this period, and 14-day average percent positive PCR tests greater than 10 percent with more than 20 tests performed during this period.
As of September 17, Fannin County has 570 total cases, 92 new cases in two weeks, 14.7 percent positive test rate over two weeks, and nine deaths.
The new case rate is down 11.3 percent across Georgia, and the positivity rate dropped to 7.7 percent.
Still, until a vaccine becomes available, everyone needs to practice precaution and wear a mask in public settings.
COVID-19 hazard pay tabled for frontline workers
News September 15, 2020
BLUE RIDGE, Ga – Commissioners decided to indefinitely table CARES Act hazard pay until receiving more information from the state.
With several unanswered questions about eligibility and everchanging guidelines from the state, the board decided to hold on accepting COVID-19 hazard pay. The item can be brought up again by the new administration in January 2021 or if new information becomes available. There’s no deadline by which to spend the money.
Several other counties have begun accepting hazard funds, but no one appears to follow a standard aside from frontline public safety employees qualify. However, the guidelines continually change the meaning of public safety employees. As of September 8, the sheriff department, firefighters, 911, and EMS/EMA were listed as approved to receive hazard funds.
Volunteer firefighters could receive $10 per call, but that isn’t a finalized plan, just a proposal.
“What’s legal for us to pay?” asked Post One Earl Johnson.
County Attorney Lynn Doss confirmed that anyone under the EMS/EMA umbrella should qualify for hazard pay.
“I’m not going to make the final say on who gets what when they don’t work for me every day. I would like to feel very comfortable with recommendations from [department heads],” added Johnson.
No one wanted to release funds to employees that wouldn’t ultimately be reimbursable through the CARES Act.
Fannin County received notification in June about CARES Act funding, but it didn’t trickle down to smaller municipalities until later. Initially, they believed the CARES Act funds needed to be spent by September 1, but hazard pay didn’t fall under that deadline.
If local communities don’t follow the state’s guidelines, it is possible for the state to revoke those CARES Act funds.
County Attorney Doss will ask around the state to see the consensus about spending CARES Act hazard pay funds.
Post Two Glenn Patterson made a motion to table the issue until further clarification or knowledge of the deadline. Chairman Stan Helton seconded, and it was unanimously approved.