Plancarte reflects on high points of a challenging year
EL CENTRO — When District 2 Imperial County Supervisor Luis Plancarte became chairman of the board in January, he never imagined the challenges he would face this past year due to COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is a 500-pound gorilla,” he said of the virus that shut down most county businesses in March.
Faced with businesses closing, more and more people becoming infected and residents losing jobs and loved ones, Plancarte and the rest of the board shifted ways to continue to provide resources to the public.
The days where residents could just show up at the county to visit a particular department ended, and to help deal with the virus, the county instituted split shifts for employees, while others were told to work from home, he said.
Plancarte said he is happy to say, despite all the challenges, the ability to provide services never stopped.
“We still have been able to deliver services,” he said. He cited the Area Agency on Aging and Behavioral Health as just two agencies that continued to provide resources to the public during the pandemic.
One accomplishment Plancarte mentioned dealt with improving air quality through a filtration system for several schools, including Central Union High School, Dogwood Elementary and Booker T. Washington Elementary. Children, when they return to onsite learning, will be benefiting with cleaner air inside classrooms, he said.
Plancarte said under his leadership, the supervisors worked to ensure Behavioral Health and Law Enforcement worked together in a different manner on how to deal with mental health issues in the community.
In the past, police officers would have to spend a good portion of their shifts to transport mentally ill residents to a location to get the help needed.
“We did the contract with the Johnson House and worked with (the agencies),” Plancarte said.
Under Behavioral Health the supervisors were able to develop a children’s outpatient facility, clinical training center and an outpatient facility.
Due to the coronavirus, the 2020 general election was unprecedented. with mail-in ballots being the most common way residents cast their ballots.
Plancarte said he was pleased that even with one of the highest turnouts in county history and the retirement of the registrar of voters, the Elections Department was able to meet the December deadline for the votes to be certified.
“Every year, there will be glitches, but with this unprecedented election, county services did a tremendous job,” he said.
Plancarte also talked about how the county dealt with the closing of the library by instituting a grab-and-go policy, through which residents could browse online for the books they wanted before picking them up while waiting in vehicles.
The Zip program was put in place that could deliver books after they were ordered online.
Plancarte also commended the Public Works Department for its work on streets, bridges and other projects.
“The work continues,” he said. “I am very thankful to all the workers and staff, too.”
He lauded the Imperial County Area Agency on Aging for assisting those who are at risk. One such program served 900 adults and provided more than 5,000 meals.
Plancarte also thanked the residents for following the safety protocols put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.