Some wondered why Shawnee County commissioners weren’t meeting remotely. Then Aaron Mays had to quarantine.

Shawnee County Commissioner Aaron Mays had to call into Monday’s county commission meeting after being exposed to the coronavirus. Some are asking why the commissioners are even meeting in person.

Mays is quarantining after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus. Mays, who hasn’t tested positive yet, said he and his wife feel well but that he plans to work remotely for the foreseeable future.

“We don’t know where it came from. We have been pretty vigilant ... making sure we take all precautions,” Mays said. “It just goes to show how prevalent (the virus) is in our community. Even if you do all the right things you can still contract it.”

The Shawnee County Commission voted Nov. 19 to limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer, and after adopting the health order, the commissioners have met in person for two subsequent meetings at 701 N. Kansas Ave. The chairs at the Great Overland Station are socially distanced, but the room in which the commissioners meet has about 20 chairs for county employees and media.

Both meetings since the commissioners voted to limit gathering size had more than 10 people in attendance.

“Ten is already big,” said Gianfranco Pezzino, the county’s health officer, at the Nov. 19 meeting when the gathering limit was adopted. “I wonder why this board hasn’t gone (to a) full online meeting like many other public bodies have done. I think it’s time to do it, or at least consider that.”

Commissioner Kevin Cook said virtual meetings are something the commissioners should look at, and he understands why people could be frustrated with the commission holding in-person meetings after voting to limit gatherings weeks ago.

Cook said there are benefits to in-person meetings, such as the accessibility for the public to comment on items of interest.

“We also expect transparency in public bodies, we expect transparency in government,” he said. “We expect the public to be able to have accessibility to their government. Being able to balance out those health concerns with transparency in government is something we always have to look at.”

Cook said some aspects of county government, like an upcoming Joint Economic Development Organization meeting, is already going remote.

Mays said the board should consider moving remotely and said he is worried about the risks involved with bringing together people at the Great Overland Station twice a week.

Commissioner Bill Riphahn said virtual commission meetings are possible but that certain elements might not translate well online. Riphahn said the Great Overland Station is large enough to allow for social distancing and overflow seating.

Topeka City Council meetings have moved completely online but some of its committee meetings are an in-person, online hybrid mix. Riphahn added that the Kansas Legislature currently plans on meeting in person once the session resumes.

Amanda Monhollon, public information officer for the commissioners, said the county has the ability to hold meetings online, as it has done with virtual health department news conferences.

Monhollon said the commissioners could either make a motion to vote whether to hold meetings online, or Riphahn as chairman could decide to move the meetings online.

Mays said a virtual county commission meeting would make it easier for him to work from home.

“We have to look at keeping our public safe and keeping our department heads safe,” Cook said. “How we do that is what we need to look at.”