Blount County Courthouse closing over flu concerns

2 months ago 10

MUCH FOR JOINING US. I’M GLADYS BAUTISTA THE BLOUNT COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING TODAY FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO ADDRESS THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE FLU IN THE AREA. WVTM 13 ZOE BLAIR JOINS US LIVE NOW IN THE STUDIO AFTER GOING TO THAT MEETING, ZOE GLADYS, AS OF 1:00 TODAY, THE BLOUNT COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS CLOSED THROUGH WEDNESDAY BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN FLU CASES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. IT’S BEEN HITTING THIS COMMUNITY PRETTY HARD. EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE TOLD YOU THAT TWO SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED BECAUSE SO MANY STUDENTS WERE GETTING SICK. NOW, THE COURTHOUSE CLOSURE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR EFFECTS. IT WAS ALREADY SET TO BE CLOSED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS, AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE COURT CASE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW. IT’S BEEN MOVED TO LATER IN THE WEEK. IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON GETTING YOUR CAR TAG OR PAYING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES TOMORROW, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT OR SEE IF IT’S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ONLINE. NOW, AFTER THAT MEETING, I SPOKE WITH COMMISSION CHAIRMAN BRADLEY HARVEY. HE SAYS THAT ANY OTHER WEEK THEY PROBABLY COULD HAVE KEPT THE COURTHOUSE OPEN. THEY WERE ALREADY SHORT STAFFED BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS. AND NOW THE STAFF THEY DO HAVE IS GETTING SICK. IT’S CUTTING INTO WHAT WHAT STAFF THAT WE HAD. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TWO SCHOOLS THAT HAD CLOSED OUT PRIOR DURING THE WEEK. AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS PRUDENT JUST OVER THE WEEKEND. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ALREADY STARTING THE CHRISTMAS TRAVEL. THE BEST TIME, YOU KNOW, MAYBE JUST GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT MONDAY AND THEN PICK UP BUSINESS THURSDAY. AS OF NOW, THE COURTHOUSE IS SET TO REOPEN ON THURSDAY. BUT IF THE FLU NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE, THEY MAY HAVE TO KEEP IT CLOSED THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW T

In an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon, the Blount County Commission voted unanimously to close the county courthouse through Wednesday because of the rapid spread of the flu.

In an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon, the Blount County Commission voted unanimously to close the county courthouse through Wednesday because of the rapid spread of the flu.The Blount County Courthouse was already set to be closed Tuesday and Wednesday for the holidays, but now it's going to be closed Monday as well.Bradley Harvey, chairman of the commission, told WVTM 13 that any other week, they probably could have remained open."Most county employees take a lot of vacation time at this time, and we're running kind of a skeleton crew throughout the county," Harvey said. "Then, with the onset of flu and these other mystery viruses, it's cutting into what staff we had."The closure should not have a major effect on residents. The only court case scheduled for Monday has been moved to later in the week.Residents who were planning to get car tags or pay property taxes will have to wait until later in the week or go online.Harvey said the onslaught of illness hit the county quickly."It's actually a very rapid thing that's happening, most of it has been this week," he said. "We had two schools that had closed out prior during the week. We thought it was prudent just over the weekend, with a lot of people already starting the Christmas travel, it was the best time to maybe just go ahead and close out Monday and then pick up business Thursday."Reopening Thursday is the current plan, but it isn't guaranteed. If the illnesses continue to spread, Harvey said they may have to remain closed through the end of the week.

ONEONTA, Ala. —

In an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon, the Blount County Commission voted unanimously to close the county courthouse through Wednesday because of the rapid spread of the flu.

The Blount County Courthouse was already set to be closed Tuesday and Wednesday for the holidays, but now it's going to be closed Monday as well.

Bradley Harvey, chairman of the commission, told WVTM 13 that any other week, they probably could have remained open.

"Most county employees take a lot of vacation time at this time, and we're running kind of a skeleton crew throughout the county," Harvey said. "Then, with the onset of flu and these other mystery viruses, it's cutting into what staff we had."

The closure should not have a major effect on residents. The only court case scheduled for Monday has been moved to later in the week.

Residents who were planning to get car tags or pay property taxes will have to wait until later in the week or go online.

Harvey said the onslaught of illness hit the county quickly.

"It's actually a very rapid thing that's happening, most of it has been this week," he said. "We had two schools that had closed out prior during the week. We thought it was prudent just over the weekend, with a lot of people already starting the Christmas travel, it was the best time to maybe just go ahead and close out Monday and then pick up business Thursday."

Reopening Thursday is the current plan, but it isn't guaranteed. If the illnesses continue to spread, Harvey said they may have to remain closed through the end of the week.

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