At their meeting on Wednesday, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved legislation for $10 million in emergency funding to support community related services. Fulton County Chairman Rob Pitts drafted the legislation that was approved unanimously with all members of the commission signing on as co-sponsors.
Back in March, Pitts had directed the county manager to find the money in the existing approved 2020 budget. Pitts particularly noted the needs for the county’s most vulnerable residents, including seniors and the homeless. The money will also be used to provide relief in the form of loans to small businesses.
“This money is to be used for direct services to our citizens and distributed as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence,” said Pitts. “Our citizens are hurting and need financial assistance now.”
The move came soon after Dr. Elizabeth Ford, interim director of the Fulton County Board of Health, signed an order directing all county residents to shelter in place. The order laid out a number of rules relating to the shelter in place mandate. Some of these rules are not so much rules as more “strong encouragements” – indeed, from a legalese perspective, the order makes for interesting reading.
The Board of Health is given this power through the county code, “to take such steps as may be necessary to prevent and suppress disease and conditions deleterious to health and to determine compliance with laws and rules, regulations, and standards adopted thereunder.”
Imagine health inspections but for the whole county.
The interesting part comes by the differences of the language used. “All residents of Fulton County are commanded to stay at their place of residence,” with exceptions given for residents to provide or receive essential services or engage in certain essential activities.
Medically fragile individuals and people who are already sick “are strongly encouraged” to stay in their residence to the extent possible except as necessary to seek medical care. Persons showing symptoms that could be indicators of COVID-19 “shall refrain” from entering public buildings, restaurants, shops, public transportation and all other public areas.
Violations of the Order will be considered a misdemeanor and are subject to penalties of up to $1,000 and/or 12 months in jail.
As many of the county services as possible have been shifted online and as many offices as possible have been closed. Libraries are closed but digital library resources are available and include online tutoring and homework help. All recently expired or expiring soon library cards have automatically been extended to ensure full access for patrons. Fulton County Library staff are also conducting a special storytime for small children, Monday-Friday at 11:00 a.m. on Facebook, while they are home from school or in daycare.
The county is also running a curbside seniors meal distribution program Monday-Friday and other senior services in Sandy Springs, East Point and Atlanta.
To see the full list of services and other closures: https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/news/2020/03/26/updates-on-fulton-county-facility-closures-and-service-changes
