[ April 15, 2020 ] Pickens County leaders meet weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday via ZOOM for discussion related to COVID-19. KnowPickens is videoing the Wednesday meeting and available on YouTube. (time in meeting)

Hosted by Donnie Craig, Pickens Sheriff ( 0:00 )

Rob Jones, Pickens County Commissioner Chair ( :58 )
- 3D Printing of face shields
- Disappointed in rise of COVID-19 cases (13 confirmed cases | 2 deaths )
[ NOTE: Changed to 14 confirmed cases at noon update @ https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report
- Gilmer County testing but with same protocol being symptomatic
[ NOTE: After meeting DPH announced "Effective immediately, all symptomatic individuals will be eligible for COVID-19 testing. Health care workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will still be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic. Referrals are required by local Health Department or Health Care Provider."
Direct Patient lines 1-888-881-1474 is open:
? 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
? 8:30 a.m. ? Noon, Saturday]
- Normal day to day activities with skeleton crews

John Nicholson, Pickens County EMA Director ( 4:27 )
- PPE order for Jasper PD
- Requested control team at Wildwood Nursing - no way to isolate people

Phillip Dean, Pickens County Director of Utilities ( 5:06 )

Sloan Elrod, Pickens County Fire Chief ( 5:35 )
- Home Depot provided wipes for Jasper PD
- Call volume slow

Rob Jones, Pickens County Commissioner Chair ( 6:40 )
- Concerns with Coca-Cola not wearing mask to change out products - barred from 911 center

Steve Lawrence, Jasper Mayor ( 8:07 )
- Local businesses inquiring if will be able to open at end of the month

Brandon Douglas, Jasper City Manager ( 8:47 )
- Commends Chief Roper and team for positivity to the community [ North Georgia Safety Clowns traveled in a fire truck around neighborhoods in Jasper today. ]
- Still a lot of unknowns between now and the end of the month
- Continue to educate businesses on the statewide executive order

Greg Lovell, Jasper Police Department Chief ( 10:56 )
- PD good on supplies
- A little uptick in thefts

SFC Tim Nichols, Commander of Georgia State Patrol Post 28 (12:08 )
- Call volume is mainly concerns on executive order
- Notice more volume of vehicles on the road

Kristy Easterwood, Operations Chief Pickens 911 ( 12:48 )

Von Headrick, Jasper Assistant Fire Chief (21:09)
- Just clowning around to bring some cheer [ North Georgia Safety Clowns ]

Donnie Craig, Pickens Sheriff ( 14:23 )
- Drive up church services successful and would like to continue by offering shorter services, social distancing, closing the church off, and vehicles parked 6 to 10 ft apart
- Tim Nichols, Mayor Steve Lawrence, Brandon Douglas and Commissioner Rob Jones see no problem with the churches continuing by following governor's orders
- 6 PSO employees out sick with 2 tested for COVID-19 with negative results. 1 still waiting on test results.
- Jail has coronavirus testing kits - currently 46 inmates with no issues
- Supplies holding up