WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, The Board of Commissioners of Lake County Indiana Declared an Emergency exists in Lake County Indiana; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, The Board of Commissioners of Lake County Indiana restricted office staff to half days and limited the access to the buildings to employees and essential staff; and
WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, The Board of Commissioners of Lake County Indiana closed all Lake County Government buildings from March 24, 2020 until April 6, 2020; and WHEREAS, on April 2, 2020, The Board of Commissioners of Lake County Indiana extended the closure until April 20, 2020; and
WHEREAS, County employees continue to work in their essential duties both in the building and remotely to ensure the citizens and visitors of Lake County remain safe and are afforded all the rights we are obligated to ensure
NOW THEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners of Lake County, Indiana declare that the following actions be taken in relation to this ongoing emergency:
- The closure announced on March 23rd is hereby extended through and including May 1, 2020 with a return to regular work of Monday, May 4, 2020.
- For purposes of this Emergency Declaration and while Lake County Government Buildings are closed to the general public in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout Lake County, all first responders, law enforcement, emergency dispatchers and management personnel, judges, court personnel, corrections personnel, and other governmental employees working for, or to support “Essential Governmental Functions” are hereby exempt from this Emergency Declaration.
- The phrase “Essential Governmental Functions” means all services provided by offices of elected officials and any and all departments under each office of an elected official needed to ensure the continuing operation of governmental agencies or to provide support the health, safety and welfare of the public, and including contractors performing work for the County. Each elected office holder and department head is encouraged to continue to provide services to the citizens of Lake County and to determine and identify employees and/or contractors necessary to the performance of those functions.
- Employees are further instructed to seek direction from their immediate supervisor for direction on specific job assignments during this closure.
This Declaration of Emergency is enacted this 16th Day of April, 2020. _________________________________________ Michael C. Repay President, Lake County Board of Commissioners