Happy Tuesday evening. It is almost time for the #MeckBOCC meeting. Commissioners will get an update from Gibbie Harris and discuss small business relief and receive an updated financial forecast. You can watch live here: https://mecklenburg.ravnur.com/live/BOCC 

No video for #MeckBOCC. All commissioners are meeting by phone https://mecklenburg.ravnur.com/live/BOCC 

"I don't know what I am voting for!" - Vilma Leake #MeckBOCC

The county is doing public appearance via phone- Paresh Patel is asking for the county's help in getting PPE for essential businesses

County Manager Dena Diorio and Health Director Gibbie Harris are about to speak. The CEOs of Novant and Atrium are also on the call to answer questions from commissioners #MeckBOCC

NEW: Plans for the Charlotte field hospital are changing. The hospital systems are now asking for a 600 bed mass care site in or near Uptown.

Previous plans were for a 3000 bed field hospital at UNCC

NEW- Park gates are closing in Mecklenburg County. The parks will turn into walk-in amenities only

Any cars that park in front of gates will be towed. The park gate closure is the last step before closing parks and greenways, Diorio warns

Going back to the field hospital. Plans changed for 3 reasons according to Diorio:

- Atrium and Novant have maximized their buildings to bring more capacity
- FEMA is not providing assistance with staff and supplies
- The social distancing has begun to flatten the curve slightly

Gibbie Harris is speaking now. 805 laboratory confirmed cases involving residents of Meck County. 8 deaths ranging from 60-93. All people who died had underlying health conditions.

Of the 650 cases (as of 4/4), Harris says 40% have been released from isolation #MeckBOCC

Meck County is hiring 30 influencers including college students and local celebrities who will create at least 300 posts about COVID-19 and social distancing. County is also launching a 4 week radio ad campaign

Atrium CEO Gene Woods says because of the success of social distancing so far, the peak surge they were anticipating in mid April is now projected for May. He says the field hospital could potentially be located on Atrium or Novant property. Army Corps of Engineers is vetting

Woods says in addition to FEMA not providing relief for the field hospital, local officials have been told the state will not be providing staff/ supply help either

Novant CEO Carl Armato says it is possible the 600 bed field hospital could be split between both Atrium and Novant's campuses.

On field hospital support: "I am saddened that we will not have any federal or state support to do it. We are blessed we in Mecklenburg County have resources to protect our people. I regret we have to do it alone." - Trevor Fuller #MeckBOCC

County Manager Dena Diorio says whatever is spent on the field hospital will be eligible for reimbursement #MeckBOCC

County Manager Dena Diorio says there will be increased enforcement of the stay at home order. Park gates closing- walk-in only. Law enforcement will be enforcing social distancing rules in parks. Discussion is still taking place about closing boat ramps & limiting ppl in stores

Diorio says there are no plans at this point to have officers stop people in their cars and ask where they are going

UNCC previously ordered students to move out of 6 dorms last weekend and this weekend. The second phase of move out has been suspended since Meck County is no longer planning on using campus for the field hospital
https://emergency.uncc.edu/node/245 

An estimate of 700 staff members will be needed for a 600 bed field hospital. FEMA and the state have told local leaders they cannot assist with staffing or supplies.

A cost for the 600 bed field hospital has not been determined yet. Commissioner @SBHarden asks for it to be shared with the public when it is determined

Health Director Gibbie Harris says some of the groups more at risk in Meck County are first responders and healthcare workers. There hasn't been any cluster of cases involving businesses or types of businesses

County Manager Dena Diorio says the county has heard Gov Roy Cooper may want to extend the state's stay at home order. Meck County will likely model after what the state does #MeckBOCC

"The nights are lonely and the days have been long." - Vilma Leake #MeckBOCC

"The deadliest day in America in New York and New Jersey. I never thought I would live to see it. Is anybody listening? Does anybody care?" - Vilma Leake #MeckBOCC

Commissioner @susanrodmcd says she wants to make sure Meck County taxpayers are not paying for things the hospital systems can pay on their own. Diorio says the county has not been asked to fund anything at this point #MeckBOCC

Commissioner @OnTheFrogSide asks Novant/Atrium if they have an increased ability to do testing on vulnerable populations. Novant CEO Carl Armato thinks more testing will be able to come soon for high risk zip codes and populations

Commissioner @vote4Dunlap says the county should be careful not to end the stay at home order too soon.

"I want us to be very careful. We don't want people to suffer long than they are but we also don't want them to reinfect this community."

Someone keeps saying "Oh God" or "Oh Lord" when Commissioner Fuller is speaking. I can't make out who it is on the call. Commissioner Fuller just said "excuse me I am speaking"

Health Director Gibbie Harris tells @SBHarden that commissioners do not need to know how many county employees have tested positive for COVID-19

Commissioner @susanrodmcd points out the mass care site will likely serve the regional community

The county is now going over a potential small business relief package. The county is considering a $5 million loan program. Businesses can receive up to $35K. Interest rate 3%

Commissioner @PatCothamMeck says she is opposed to the package because she is worried it leaves behind some businesses. She says she thinks the county can do better #MeckBOCC

Commish @FullerforNC calls the program a "giveaway" and since the requirements are so little, "we are essentially going to be giving money away." He says history shows the people who have the greatest needs will be left behind b/c they will not be able to get to it fast enough

A big point of criticism for Fuller and Cotham- the administrative costs of the $5 million loan program are $500K- $1 million

The county attorney says Mecklenburg cannot give forgivable loans to small businesses. This would violate state law

Commissioner @SBHarden: "The small business community is literally devastated." Harden is voting for the package and says she can't imagine what small businesses are going through right now. She says the county has to show up for them #MeckBOCC

Commissioner Vilma Leake also says she is not supporting it because she believes it doesn't do enough to help minority owned businesses #MeckBOCC

Commissioner @vote4Dunlap: "If we don't agree to this tonight, it will be another 2 weeks before we can take action." #MeckBOCC

Commissioner @hipolitix made a motion to make the following changes (thnx @AlisonKuznitz for capturing). Minimum businesses can receive is also being reduced to 5K from 10K https://twitter.com/AlisonKuznitz/status/1247696582121869313?s=20

Commissioners vote 7.5 (8)- 1. Commissioner Vilma Leake voted "halfway aye." Commissioner Cotham voted no. Small business relief passes #MeckBOCC

County financial impact presentation: "Many small businesses are likely to fail. Some small businesses, especially those that are highly leveraged, may not reopen."

The county is projecting a dip in the assessed value of motor vehicles due to fewer people buying new cars

The county is projecting sales tax to be down 23% in Q4 of FY20 compared to last year's Q4

I'm playing catchup because I had to just step away for a 10 pm live shot, but @CBJspanberg and @AlisonKuznitz have been tweeting details about the county's financial status due to COVID-19. Needless to say the county is taking a hit. Plugged back in now

To sustain current services, the county needs a growth rate of more than 1%. FY21 is going to be a very "lean" budget. County will have to dip into reserves to keep up services in FY21

Commissioner @vote4Dunlap reminds commissioners that the numbers will likely change over the coming months #MeckBOCC

Commissioner @susanrodmcd proposes Meck County commissioners meet weekly due to COVID-19. @SBHarden seconds the motion. Discussion happening now. Meetings would be focused on getting info publicly about what is happening moving forward #MeckBOCC

The motion has been withdrawn because it was only made since Chair Dunlap said there was no meeting next week, but it turns out there is one!

Leake- "Can we finish our agenda first"
Dunlap- "Commissioner Leake this is on our agenda"
Leake- "I'm always wrong, aren't I George?"
Dunlap- "In this case you are"

#MeckBOCC

County Manager Dena Diorio says she will talk to Gibbie Harris about targeted messaging to Mecklenburg's Latino community. Commissioner @hipolitix suggested having outreach during press briefings #MeckBOCC @telemundoclt

Dena Diorio says the county will seek info from the state on how many residents are applying for unemployment

Dunlap is referencing two cases he believes resulted in community spread:

A pastor who had the virus but told the congregation he has been healed

A group of folks in a choir who went on a cruise, left the ship and got the virus. At least 15 people impacted

This is the first I am hearing of these two cases. I've reached out to the JIC for more info

I’ve gotten a couple DMs on Twitter and IG from people interested in applying to be @meckcounty COVID-19 social influencers. I reached out to the JIC to find out if they are hiring and what criteria they are looking for #MeckBOCC