It’s no secret that the county’s healthcare system is being taxed by the spike in COVID-19 cases.

An effort is in the planning stages to smooth the process by which people in the community can support those health care providers.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said during Wednesday’s meeting that he’s reached out to Warren General Hospital and the Rouse — and will reach out to other entities — about “putting together a program so that people can donate and fund” food, snacks and supplies for both health care workers and patients in congregate living facilities.

He said the effort is still in the planning stages — he’s hoping for a more concrete proposal by the end of the week — but said the “response generally has been very good.”

Eggleston said the organizations are getting calls about how people can support.

“It takes up time for the administration that’s already taxes,” he said, noting the goal is to find a “way to filter” the requests “through other organizations to make a single stream.”

The commissioners also signed off on a “citation for excellence in service” for the county’s healthcare workers.

Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said it is “essentially a thank you on behalf of the commissioners” for doctors, nurses and ancillary staff that are risking their lives “to care for our citizens.”

Commissioner Tricia Durbin said the citation is a “great idea” and said she wishes “there was something more that we could do given our limited budget and funds.”

In other businesses, it was announced that Mike Kitay has been promoted from assistant public defender to chief public defender.

The commissioners also signed off on a grant agreement with the Department of State that will bring reimbursement of $3,278 from mail-in ballot postage costs.