ESCANABA — The Delta County Board of Commissioners allowed campgrounds at county parks to partially reopen on Monday, May 18 while complying with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order Friday evening.

The decision was made after the board resumed a special meeting that began Thursday. On Thursday, Board Chair Patrick Johnson said he would be okay with allowing the campgrounds to reopen Monday even though the executive order had been extended through May 28. However, he wanted to know whether liability insurance would still cover the campgrounds and if they could operate while park bathrooms were closed before making a final decision.

On Friday, the board agreed to allow people with no permanent residence to camp at county campgrounds for the purpose of sheltering in place. A single bathroom will be open at the campgrounds. Due to issues with liability insurance and the fact that the executive order is still legally valid, all other camping at county campgrounds will be prohibited for the time being.

The commission voted almost unanimously in favor of letting the campgrounds partially reopen Monday; Commissioner Theresa Nelson was the sole holdout. The board also voted to cover any Delta Conservation District losses related to the parks up to $25,000, with the possibility of additional coverage in the future at the board’s ­discretion.