The Clallam County Commissioners have determined that due to the extremely high levels of COVID-19 circulating in our county it is in the best interest of the public that Commissioners’ Work Sessions and Board Meetings return to a virtual-only format until such time as the COVID-19 case rate in Clallam County returns to the “Moderate Risk” category of fewer than 75 cases per 100,000 population.

The Clallam County Commissioners honor the concept of open and public meetings and have been holding modified in-person meetings since the Governor’s Orders relating to public meetings allowed for them. It is the strong preference of the Commissioners to meet in person and to allow the public to participate in person.

However, the Commissioners have been working to improve the virtual meeting platforms used by the County and have found that virtual meetings do allow for robust public participation.

Holding in-person meetings when COVID rates are very high creates an environment that might be putting members of the public and county staff at health risk, including children. Clallam County Health Officer Dr. Berry has recommended that all public meetings be held virtually until COVID-19 case rates return to moderate range.

Former Clallam County Public Health Officer Dr. Tom Locke concurs, stating that “the current prevalence of COVID creates a very dangerous situation…(the Board) needs to have Zero Tolerance for unmasked individuals indoors in public places. My strong recommendation is that (the Board) discontinue public meetings for which 100% masking compliance cannot be assured.”

Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend Commissioners’ meetings virtually via the Zoom platform; connection instructions for joining via computer, mobile device or telephone may be found at the top of every published agenda. All meetings agendas may be found at http://www.clallam.net/bocc/public_meetings.html or http://www.clallam.net/features/meetings.html

Commissioners’ meetings may also be viewed in real time via a live-stream at clallam.net at http://www.clallam.net/features/meetings.html and archived versions of each recorded meeting are typically available within a few hours of the meeting’s conclusion.

Questions and comments can be directed to the Clerk of the Board Loni Gores at agores@co.clallam.wa.us or 360-417-2256.