Leaders adapt to new normal living with novel coronavirus

Lorain County is working on adjusting to new requirements in the wake of novel coronavirus with more employees working at home and the potential for budget shortfalls.

County Administrator Jim Cordes said a number of county employees were placed on administrative leave and the administration is evaluating every department to determine who can work remotely.

“We did yesterday (March 24) send a great deal of employees home on unpaid administrative emergency leave,” Cordes said.

“We do have a handful working remotely right now, and we’re working on having more of them work remotely,” Cordes said. “To be candid with you, we weren’t prepared to have people work remotely; it’s been a bit of a struggle for us to change that.

“The public’s never taken great exception of public employees not being in a public place of work. So, it’s not something that we’ve embraced on the distant work environment, virtual work environment.”

The county is establishing VPN (virtual private network) licensing from the state to allow more employees from Lorain County Job and Family Services to work from home along with closing nonessential departments to limit in person contact, Cordes said.

The Lorain County Collection Center, Lorain County Solid Waste and the Lorain County Visitors Bureau have closed along with the Lorain County Clerk of Courts shutting three of its four title offices across the county.

Cordes pointed to April 17 as a key date to determine the next steps in how the county will continue to manage its operations.

He added he expects the Lorain County Administration Building at 226 Middle Ave. will close its doors to the public, and commissioners are continuing to evaluate their plans for public meetings.

“They’re on notice that it could go longer,” Cordes said. “Should the situation improve, which we’re not really gaining information that says it will, it could be shorter.

“So, we’ve taken appropriate steps and we’re going to continue to evaluate the environment take additional steps.”

Commissioner Sharon Sweda noted Gov. Mike DeWine’s stay at home order issued March 23 and said it was a difficult day for the county.

“We had the directive to thin out the staff that only those folks who were essential to the daily operations that are continuing, were to be stamped within the building,” Sweda said. “We’re making those so noted changes for those who are capable of conducting necessary business who can work from home, as well as then determining which departments had nonessential workers who are on unpaid administrative leave now.

“Those are difficult decisions.”

Sweda added her belief that the estimated $2 trillion bi-partisan stimulus package agreed to by the U.S. Senate early March 25 providing expanded support for unemployment insurance in addition to leniency being offered by lenders and landlords would fill the gaps for some individuals that have been negatively impacted.

“I want to thank everybody on our staff and throughout our community who continues to go to work in light of what’s going on as well as thank those who are now at home for their patience as we weather through this,” she said. “It’s been predicted, or projected, that based on the formulas available to us, the end of April until mid-May is when we can expect our actual peak.”

In forecasting the rest of 2020, Cordes said cuts to local services are less predictable than during the financial crisis of 2008-2010.