Over the last year, a lot of procedures have changed on the Carbon County level as a result of the pandemic.

From closing the buildings to the public, making needed modifications to the courthouse and learning that plans to adjust from in-person to remote working were not sufficient, the county has worked to create a safe environment in the face of COVID-19.

Carbon County Commissioners Chris Lukasevich and Rocky Ahner discussed what the county has learned to adapt to the changing dynamic.

“While at the county’s executive level there is a very detailed and well-thought-out COOP (continuity of operations plan), in general, similar contingency plans do not exist at the department, court or row offices level,” Lukasevich said. “Thus the county was ill-prepared to execute remote operations when the impact of COVID-19 demanded physical distancing that ultimately resulted in a significant furlough of employees.”

He added that the county’s plan when it came to working from home was nonexistent in the beginning, but has improved significantly.

“The county did not have the plan, the equipment (computers, cloud-based phone systems), or policies. While having greatly increased our capability to conduct long-term remote operations, there is significant planning and resourcing necessary.

“On the positive side of this equation, the experience did prove that many county positions to include case workers, probation officers, etc., can work remotely if given the tools and strong leadership oversight and accountability.”

In addition, Lukasevich said the county’s establishment of the biweekly meeting County COVID Focus Group in June 2020 has helped create a collaboration between various entities from municipal government, state and federal agencies, emergency management, local hospital networks, school districts, economic development and tourism and social service agencies to help create a seamless response to the pandemic on several levels.

Lukasevich said that based on his extensive military background, his assessment “has shown me that adopting the training, education, planning and execution, performance evaluating and leadership ethos of the armed forces is greatly needed in county government and is all the more evident during a period of crisis. Let’s adopt these best practices, then we can move to the next level.”

He highlighted the COVID-19 County Block Grant Program as a way that government should be run to provide services and resources to the residents, while also providing transparency.

“I still beam with pride when I think of the accomplishments of the COVID Block Grant Admin Group and the committees executed.”

Ahner also weighed in, citing specific decisions the county made to best handle the pandemic.

These included installing Plexiglas throughout the county offices, moving to appointment-only business and taking a proactive measure with cleaning services to provide deeper cleaning and sanitizing of areas throughout county offices.

“As the safety chairman for the county I was fortunate to be involved in COVID-19 Mitigation and Safety procedures that can continue for the county after the pandemic,” Ahner said, noting that the county also purchased foggers and shifted courtroom one around to provide the adequate space needed to hold proceedings.

He noted some big collaborations that helped prepare the county in various ways.

“One of the big changes I was involved in was the county food pantry (Shepherd House) went to a drive-thru method in March,” Ahner said. “This was mandated and was not well-received in the beginning, but now it’s liked and may continue after the pandemic.”

On Oct. 24, a drive-thru flu vaccination clinic was also held in Lehighton to provide the necessary practice for future vaccination clinics through the Department of Health.

And as for the biggest accomplishment, Ahner echoed Lukasevich’s thoughts with regards to the COVID-19 County Block Grant distribution.

The county distributed money to 208 small businesses, 84 nonprofits, 20 municipalities, 26 tourism groups and one behavioral health group, all of which were affected by the pandemic.

“County grants are usually small and directed to a few. To be involved in a process of this magnitude makes you feel good that you helped many.”