(KAIR)--Atchison County Commissioners are making the transition from online-only meetings to in-person sessions.

Commission Chair Jack Bower, during Tuesday’s online Zoom-platform meeting, told his fellow Commissioners that the Commission’s next round of meetings, set for Tuesday, including their regular afternoon session, will be a step toward a return to pre-COVID-19 normalcy. 

The Commission, following recent questions regarding matters of the Atchison County Health Department, is working to schedule time with Atchison County Health Officer Lori Forge, possibly during Tuesday afternoon’s 1:00 open meeting. However, Commissioner Eric Noll informed the Commission that Forge’s schedule, including oversight of Atchison County’s virus vaccination program, will likely not allow it.

Commissioner Casey Quinn, in reference to recent controversy regarding Forge’s health order, extending COVID-19-related mandates for 60 days and approved by the Commission February 23, asked for a review Tuesday, regardless of Forge’s schedule. 

Bower said a special meeting would be a better fit to address the issue, and that was agreed to, if necessary. 

Noll clarified that Forge may still be able to attend, but simply could not, due to her schedule, commit to Tuesday’s time frame

The health order has drawn controversy, with Kansas City attorney, and Kansas GOP Chairman Mike Kuckelman, who owns property in Atchison County, speaking to the Commission during their March 2 meeting, called the health order “a three-month Draconian order” imposed on Atchison County.

Quinn was the lone no vote during February’s Commission approval of the order.