BROWN COUNTY – Brown County commissioners unanimously approved a pair of resolutions in response to COVID-19 at an emergency meeting in the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) training room Friday.

Commissioners approved a special MEDICA health insurance enrollment period for county employees who previously declined or waived dependent coverage. Commissioner Tony Berg made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp.

“It’s a good idea. We have one employee who is able to use this,” said Commissioner Scott Windschitl. “It becomes effective April 1, regardless of what date people may want it.”

A resolution for COVID-19 aid response to State of Minnesota Executive Order 20-20 was unanimously approved, motion by Berg, seconded by Veerkamp.

Brown County Administrator Sam Hansen said many other counties are approving such a resolution or something very similar to continue priority services for critical sector workers to perform for the public.

“We have had to provide work for non-essential workers, sometimes less than 40 hours a week,” Hansen said. “We’re trying to keep them as busy as possible.”

Brown County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dave Borchert said all workers that can work do so for the most part, will work at their residences after midnight Friday, March 27.

“We’re using technology to do work remotely and urge people to do social distancing,” Borchert said. “We’ve made substantial changes allowing people to do this and will continue to do so for the next few weeks.”

According to the resolution,all Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines will be strictly enforced including social distancing and limited gatherings.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).