County administration building closed

Platte County Commissioners are looking at plans to allow county employees to work remotely even as they close the county administration building to the public.

Commissioners met for their regular administrative session Monday, March 16 in Platte City and after handling regular business heard a lengthy update on local impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic from Sheriff Mark Owen, Capt. Tony Avery and Platte County Health Department Director Mary Jo Vernon.

Due to the rapidly-evolving situation, Owen issued a statement on Friday, March 13 to suspend inmate visitations at the Platte County Detention Center to protect the health of both inmates and workers.

By the Monday meeting, preparations have escalated. By the end of the day Monday, the Circuit Court issued a declaration that those who have been to affected areas or are ill with respiratory symptoms or fever will be barred from entering the Platte County Courthouse. On Tuesday morning, the Platte County Administration Building closed.

“This situation has incited everything from panic to naysayers saying that this is no big deal,” Vernon said. “I don’t want to incite panic in any way, but I want people to be prepared. We’re a storm-ready county and I want us to be the same with this so that we’re ready, we’re prepared and we can do what we need to do.”

Meetings among the health department, county officials, school administrators and other representatives were held last week to help ramp up the county’s response to the pandemic.

As of press time, there were no confirmed cases in Platte County, but Vernon said things were moving closer.

“I wish I could say we have the immunity medallion, but it’s coming,” Vernon said.

To that end, Owen said the county has prepared a disaster declaration document, but will not seek approval of that document from commissioners unless and until it becomes necessary in Platte County.

“The biggest thing is — let’s not panic. There’s only so much toilet paper and I get it, but you don’t need enough to last you for the next six months,” Owen said. “You need to be considerate of other people and you have to share. It’s extremely important we work together.”

Presiding commissioner Ron Schieber said the message of spreading kindness is a good one and called for a matching outbreak of prayer in the county.

At the county level, he said Monday that cleaning of the facilities was ramped up and hand sanitizer stations added throughout the buildings before the Tuesday closure. Talks have started with officeholders and department heads with implementing processes to allow employees to work remotely.

“We’re looking at what county operations will look like going forward,” he said.