Politics

County terminates state of emergency

By Bill Moss, Published: May 8, 2020

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners on Friday terminated the state of emergency the county had initially issued on March 14.

After County Manager Steve Wyatt issued the order on Saturday, March 14, the commissioners ratified it on the following Wednesday.  Commissioners amended the order on March 27 and on March 31.

"The Board has determined that there is not a continued need for a local state of emergency in light of the Governor’s continued proclamation of a statewide state of emergency," said the proclamation lifting the emergency order. "The sole remaining restrictions related to the COVID19 emergency are those imposed by the Governor."

Commissioners have said in their two most recent meetings that Gov. Roy Cooper's statewide stay-at-home order is too restrictive for counties that are showing flat or downward numbers of covid cases. In a letter to Cooper and a resolution, they have called on the governor to give counties flexibility to guide a safe reopening of local economies.