By Stefanie Jackson – Northampton County recently awarded about 100 small businesses grants of $5,000 each, or a total of $500,000, to offset the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The small business grants were covered by Northampton’s share of funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, more than $2 million.
The announcement of the grant awards was made when Northampton Finance Director John Chandler updated the board of supervisors Oct. 27 on how the county has spent and plans to spend its CARES Act money by the Dec. 31 deadline.
About half the money has been spent or is reserved, meaning the county has written checks to pay for products and services received or has contracts for work to be done and purchase orders for supplies and materials, Chandler explained.
A budget for spending the CARES Act money was drafted by Sept. 22, but parts of the budget had to be changed so all the funds could be spent by the deadline.
For example, about $346,000 was designated for broadband internet, but the Eastern Shore of Virginia Broadband Authority would not have been able to build the infrastructure before Dec. 31, so all but $53,000 of that money was moved to other spending categories.
Northampton will spend more than $191,000 in the “equipment/vehicle enhancements” category instead of $50,000 as originally planned.
That money is for seven new LifePaks to be used in ambulances by Northampton emergency medical services personnel.
The current LifePaks will no longer be supported by the vendor in two years when the service contract ends.
The county had planned to replace the LifePaks in two years, but if it purchases them now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a 50% discount will be applied, Chandler said.
The purchase can be covered by CARES Act funds because the new LifePaks will include temperature probes, he said.
The last LifePak purchased cost the county $33,000, Chandler said.
“What the heck do these things do?” asked Supervisor John Coker.
Director of Public Works Chris Thomas listed the LifePak’s capabilities, which include monitoring heart rates, oxygen levels, and temperatures – “everything you need to monitor on a patient, basically, and be able to talk to the hospital en route.”
The doctors at the hospital can receive the readings from the LifePak while the patient is being transported in the ambulance, Chandler added.
The EMS department will also purchase a new power stretcher that will be compatible with the new LifePaks.
Another additional expense in the CARES Act budget is an Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging request for $50,000 to help senior citizens struggling to pay for rent, utilities, or food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The budget was also changed to accept about $214,000 from Exmore. The town decided to return its share of Northampton’s CARES Act funding so it could be used in the grant program for small businesses, many of which are in Exmore.
Each of Northampton’s incorporated towns had received a share of the CARES Act funds based on population. Exmore, with the largest population of any Northampton town, had received the most money.
The CARES money will also cover county facility upgrades that help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses.
Thomas listed upgrades that had already been made or would be made by the end of December.
At the Northampton middle and high school, hand-washing stations have been added in the hallways, near the main entrances. An additional hand-washing station will be installed outside so people can wash their hands before entering the building.
All public restrooms in Northampton facilities will have touchless fixtures, including automatic toilets, soap dispensers, faucets, and paper towel dispensers.
Hand sanitizer stations will be installed in frequented areas, near entrances and restrooms.
Plexiglass barriers have been installed where business transactions are conducted.
Ultraviolet light equipment that kills germs in the air will be installed, and additional air purification will be provided by bipolar ionization devices that work with the air handlers in the HVAC systems.
In the courthouse, new access control systems have been installed to limit the number of people allowed in certain areas and promote social distancing.
The commonwealth’s attorney’s office has an intercom, and the circuit court clerk’s office has a system in which the door remains locked until the clerk unlocks it remotely from her desk.
The circuit court clerk’s office also has a mail and package drop-off center that stays locked.
County Administrator Charlie Kolakowski noted that more upgrades to the courthouse may be needed if it is approved by the state to reopen for jury trials.
