As posted to City of Fallon Government and Churchill County Facebook pages this evening:
City of Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford:
Hello, this is Mayor Ken Tedford and I’m here today with Commissioner Pete Olsen and were here to talk to you today for a few minutes about COVID-19 and families that are home and staying home for Nevada and also for the restricted businesses. Pete, why don’t you go ahead and say a few words.
Churchill County Commissioner Pete Olsen:
This is Pete Olsen, chair of the Churchill County Commission. We’ve been concerned for our community from Day One and through this time that we’ve been going through here with the COVID pandemic and we’re concerned about our families and our businesses and we want to reach out to today, our community about our plans to reopen.
Tedford:
We want to take just a few minutes and not a long time to thank you, our citizens and our businesses, for all that you have done during these trying times - the likes of which we have never seen before. We’re so proud to serve this community, which is full of people, great people, that are everyday heroes. Those that go above and beyond to help others and most of whom never receive any recognition for their efforts. We know who you are. You are everywhere in this community and we thank you for all that you do. We knew that this community would come together, and we have. The spirit of Fallon and Churchill County is strong. Now let’s stick together as we work toward safely opening our community.
Olsen:
To that end, we also want to update the community on our plans and efforts to safely reopen our community and economy in accordance with guidance from Governor Sisolak and President Trump. On April 21st, Governor Sisolak provided a framework for the state to reach a Phase One of opening of Nevada businesses aligned with President Trump’s recommendations. Churchill County could meet Governor Sisolak’s first condition as long as we have no further positives from April 16th to May 1st. Currently the county is working on a plan to be approved by the County’s Board of Health, the City of Fallon and the Commission that would address the remaining three conditions on Governor Sisolak’s plan including heath care and public health, system stability, sustained protection of vulnerable populations and phased planning of the president’s recommendations by May 1st. That could possibly position the county to enter Phase One of President Trump’s plan as early as May 1st or mid-May. Local leadership understands the community concern that Churchill County must get back to work and turn the downward trending economy around. Our community’s leadership is also aware of the importance to have a well-developed plan to transition from shelter at home to return to the work force.
Tedford:
The Mayor’s Office and the County Commissioners and the City Council are working diligently ton topics including expanding community testing, a policy for recovered citizens’ return to the work force, accommodations for vulnerable populations, extended distancing at the work place, and following the Governor’s types and kinds of businesses to reopen in Phase One. The county and city will continue to work closely in communicating with the public these transition plans as we collaborate to benefits our citizens and the community. We know this will be hard work, but we will work at it diligently. There is light at the end of the tunnel however, and we must remain diligent and united as we work toward the reopening phases. We are so proud to live in this great city and this great county. We know that together we will kickstart our economy, get our businesses back open and our citizens back to work and stay safe in doing so.
Olsen:
So tonight, we know that the people of our community…you love our community, you love your families. We want keep people safe, but we also need to get our businesses back going again in as safe a manner as possible using the guidelines we’ve been given by the Governor and President Trump we are going to do that for our community.
Tedford:
Thank you.
Olsen:
Thank you.