An end to local COVID ‘Emergency Declaration’ in sight; Fire Chief and Schools Superintendent give detailed reports

During its work session, Tuesday, November 9, the Warren County Board of Supervisors got detailed departmental updates from Warren County Public School Superintendent Dr. Chris Ballenger, Fire and Rescue Department Chief James Bonzano, and Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall, the latter who has handled reports on the impact and County response to the COVID-19 pandemic and state mandates related to the pandemic and public safety.

County Deputy Director of Emergency Services Rick Farrall has become a familiar face during the Coronavirus pandemic and response. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini

On that latter front, Farrall noted the July 1 “expiration or termination” of all Virginia Gubernatorial Executive Orders regarding the COVID-19 “State of Emergency” declaration. That coupled with the receipt and spending of all available state or federal Coronavirus Relief (CFR) Funds and the December 31, 2021, end of the period of eligibility for FEMA COVID-19 Public Assistance (Category B) applications, led to a recommendation to end the County’s “Declaration of Local Emergency” related to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. That recommendation comes from Fire & Rescue Chief Bonzano and County Administrator Ed Daley, Farrall’s report near the meeting’s end noted.

A vote to approve that recommendation will be presented to the supervisors at their meeting of Thursday, November 18; however, if approved it will not go into effect until December 31, 2021.

On the operational side of public schools and fire & rescue, Ballenger and Bonzano, the latter particularly, pulled no punches on departmental needs and the cost to achieve them.

Warren County Public School Superintendent Dr. Chris Ballenger fielded questions on coming school renovation costs versus estimates, among other personnel and operational issues faced during unusual times fueled by a viral pandemic credited with taking over 5-million lives worldwide, nearly 760,000 nationally, and 91 in Warren County. Below, Fire Chief James Bonzano, left flanked by Fire Marshal Gerry Maiatico, described in detail the county’s emergency services response statistics and what they indicate for current departmental needs.

See Superintendent Ballenger’s report on Public Schools in unusual times as the first item of business near the outset of the County video, and Chief Bonzano’s description of the county’s emergency service needs versus the personnel and means to meet those needs by state or national standards around the 39-minute mark, along with other business discussed Tuesday evening. That business included applying to the State to put a name – Hidden Creek (not Hidden Ditch despite the humorous exchange between the board chair and county administrator) – to an unnamed creek along Buck Mountain Road that runs in front of the Hidden Springs Senior Living Center.