BOOK28 PAGE: 246  Barbour County Commission! Meeting EMERGENCYI MEETING August 26, 2021 10:00am  SUSIE CVECHKO COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JAMIE CARPENTER COMMISSIONER, DAVIDS STRAIT COMMISSIONER, CONNIE KAUFMAN COUNTYCLERK, SHANAF FREY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Kim Lewis, Brad Johnson, Marybeth Hovatter, Megan Dumire, JCF Price, Izzy Knotts, Dylan Harper, Corey Brandon, Dr. Cecil Holbert, April Sinsel, Jennifer Burner, Jean Clark, Sabrina Beal, Jody Carpenter, Ronnie Helmondollar, Brett Carpenter, Teresa Nestor, James Sandy, Sherri Susie Cvechko called the Emergency meeting to order at: 10:10am. The commission meeting was held via conference call. Barbour County Faira and COVID-19.  Summerfield, Ron Schoonover  Thep purpose oft thise emergency meeting was to discuss andt take any action regarding the Commissioner Cvechko began the meeting by referring to al letter from the Barbour County Health Department mandatingt the 2021 Barbour County Fair cancellation due tot the ongoing rapidi increase anda a record highi incidence rate ofa active COVID-19 casesi in Barbour County. A letterv was alsor received from the Belington Fire Department Chief supporting the decision to cancelt the Fairt tol help protect our community andt those thats serve and protecti it. Commission Cvechkor madea as statement, as the Commission President, explainingt that Barbour County is currently number one in statey with COVID statistics andt that we have to be mindfulof our publice education system and our children. Health officials predict that Barbour County will  see a peaki in cases around mid-September. Commissioner Cvechko opened the meeting for discussion.  Students at Belington Middle School were given the chance to explain why they would like to have the opportunity tol hold the livestock: sale ands show. Commissioner: Strait asked the students ift they were concerned with catching COVID att the livestock show more than during everydayl life. Thes students responded that they didr not have a greater concern but felt that mask wearing and hand sanitizing during the show ands sale wouldr needt tob be enforced. April Sinsel, Fairgrounds Event Coordinator, asked ift there would bea ap possibility tol holda livestock: show ands sale by itself, mentioning thata areas around us are continuing with livestock events. Commissioner Carpenter addedt tot the conversation that itr needst tob be determined whether or not thel livestock show could be held independent of thet faira andt thisi iss something  that should be evaluated.    BOOK: 28 PAGE247  August 26, 2021 Page2  Commissioner Strait addedt thate everyone with reasonable thought should agree that we can't have ane estimated 20,000 exposuresi in Barbour County, however suggested setting an attendancel limit on the grounds ors shut ito down, agreeing with Commissioner Carpenter that Dr. Holbert reported that the biggest concerni ist the timing of the spike in COVID cases and potentially havinga a large number of people showing upi in one location. He notedt that the practicality of sociald distancing att the Barbour County Fairi is veryl limited andr maskr mandates would be obsolete once people enteredt through the gates. The Fairv would createas scenario that could have ac catastrophic impact on our community. Health officials are not opposedt to continuing withe events that can monitored and safety precautions enforced. Sabrina Beal, Barbour County 4HE Extension Agent, reported thatt thirty-threei families would be showing livestock that consists off fifteen Beefe exhibitors, eleven Lamb exhibitors, thirty-nine Hog exhibitors, andf fourteen Goate exhibitors. Ms. Beale explained that they can: split the exhibits and classes tol limit crowd sizes, expecting no moret than fifty people at once. Shei is willingt to do whatever needed tor make the events happen and alsos suggested doing the showi int the outside Jody Carpenter explained that he is currently at the Randolph County Fair, of which has also been cancelled. He explained how their Livestock show and salei is continuinga and whatt they haver modified in ordert to meet safety procedures. Hei feels that withr modifications, events could Commissioner Cvechko askedi ifl livestock events were to be held, could the schedule ber met due tor modifications. Sabrina Beal suggested tok keept the: sames schedule duet tos severalf factors including judges, animals being at their peak, butchering has been scheduled, etc, She confirmed that the Livestock Association rani the: show ands sale andi isi independent: from the Fair. Ronnie Helmondollar, WVUE Extension Program Director, reported that they are ins support oft the Livestock Association's plant thati isi inp place and! by working witht the Health Department, Fair Board, Extension Office and Commission, an opportunity could be provided thati is safe andy will April Sinsela also added thatt there are six Equestrian teams andi in order for themt tot finalize projects, theyr needt to hold their clinic on Sunday. Shei is requesting that these kids have Teresal Nestor, Fair board member, reported thatl livestock events have been held in conjunction witht the Fairf for 45 years. Livestock, fruits, grains andy vegetables are important andi intricate parts oft thef fair. The Fair board typically pays premium fees andj judges. Ms. Beal suggested that the Barbour County Livestock Association would absorb all fees ande expenses.  they can't pick and choose who can ando can't use thes grounds.  arena.  still happen safely.  givey young people finality with their animals.  consideration as well.    BOOK: 28 PAGE248  August 26,2021 Page3  Whilel listening to conversations, Marybeth Hovatter asked the students whoj joined what was ther mosti important to them- the show, thes sale, etc. The students agreed that the most important piece ist to be able tos show what they have accomplished with their animals. Jennifer Burner added comments that the Health Department would not be opposed to having portions oft the Fair as long as they can put protective measures in place. Further discussions are required to determine capacity, limits ands safety measures. She discussed that being at the base ofa a surge, having ane event such ast the Fairi ini full capacity, could cause further shut downs. She explained that thel letter from the Health Department tot the Fair Board was received quickly in ane effort tol help the Fair Board recoup some of their funding duet to cancellation. Ms. Burner explained that organizations could submita as safety plan that details the time frame, number of people at any given time, space size, ifc outside/inside, how the event willl be monitored and transitioned, etc. The approval turnaround time from the Health Department Ms. Burner stressed that the mission oft the Barbour County Health Department is making decisions that are best for public health, stressingt that all or nothing is not an option. She suggested thati ift there are pieces that can be carried out safely, consider allowing them to happen. She reported that the Barbour County health care: staffi is already very near capacity and while the Health Department wants tot find safe wayst to do events, some events cannot happen Sabrina Beal feels confident that a plan of action can be developed in order tor make the Discussion was held regarding the Barbour County Fair Queen pageant and what can be donet to The Fair Board isi in support of continuing withi the Livestock sale ands show and: support the Commissioner Carpenter added that he appreciates everyone coming up with arational decision and attempting to keep things moving int the right direction while continuing to: support our kids The Health Department's mission isp public health and they appreciate the collaborative support when presenting a central message to the community tol havet trusti int the Health Department  could be quick.  at this time. Public health ist the number one priority.  Livestock event happen. makei it happen.  decisions oft the Health Department and County Commission.  and community as well as keeping everyone safe.  when determining whati is best regarding public health safety.    BOOK 28 PAGE249  August 26, 2021 Page4  Following multiple discussions, Commissioner Cvechko made a motion to allow fore events that are approved byt the Barbour County Health Department from ap public health perspective ona  case-by-case request, Dave Strait seconded. 3/0  Onar motion by Susie Cvechko 11:40am, seconded. Jamie Carpenter. 3/0  Susie Cvechko, President