Fort Pierre may be one of the next South Dakota towns to enact a temporary mask mandate– and it may happen today (Nov. 23, 2020) rather than next week.
The Fort Pierre City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 5pm CT, with the only new business item being a resolution with the following summary:
“The Mayor and City Council hereby declare that all people in Fort Pierre who are able to wear a mask are requested to wear one indoors, outdoors, and in vehicles whenever it is not possible to maintain six feet distance from any other non-cohabitant person, except while eating or drinking. No penalty for non-compliance will be assessed, nor will the City be responsible for enforcement at this time. This resolution will take effect immediately upon passage and will automatically expire at the first meeting of the City Council in the year 2021, unless extended.”
Mayor Gloria Hanson brought up the discussion at last week’s (Nov. 16, 2020) city council meeting because of steadily climbing COVID-19 cases in Stanley County. Fort Pierre City Council members had agreed to put the temporary mask mandate discussion on the agenda for their next regularly scheduled meeting which is Dec. 7.
The Fort Pierre City office and the Stanley County Courthouse have both recently closed to the public because of COVID-19 exposures.
Full text of the proposed resolution is below.
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-22
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA, OUTLINING THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERRE TO TAKE ACTION TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19.
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared a public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, on April 9, 2020, the Mayor and City Council of Fort Pierre approved Ordinance No. 1041, an Emergency Ordinance to Address a Public Health Crisis by Implementing Certain Measures which have been Deemed Necessary to Slow the Community Spread of the Virus Responsible for the COVID-19 Disease; and
WHEREAS, said Ordinance No. 1041 expired sixty days later, on June 8, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the number of confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in Stanley County has risen dramatically in the last three months, and continues to rise daily; and
WHEREAS, the CDC recommends certain actions for the mitigation of transmission of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, social distancing measures, wearing a mask in certain settings, and utilizing proper cleaning measures; and
WHEREAS, SDCL 9-29-1 and SDCL 9-32-1 confer upon municipalities the power to do what may be necessary or expedient for the promotion of health and safety of the community, or for the suppression of disease; and
WHEREAS, we are entering the holiday season and must avoid activities that are higher risk for transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, it is the strong desire of the Mayor and members of the City Council to promote any action that will allow Fort Pierre businesses to remain open and thrive; our schools to safely educate our children and youth; our churches to conduct services; for other community events to safely take place; and most importantly, for the welfare and protection of our most vulnerable population.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA:
The Mayor and City Council hereby declare that all people in Fort Pierre who are able to wear a mask are requested to wear one indoors, outdoors, and in vehicles whenever it is not possible to maintain six feet distance from any other non-cohabitant person, except while eating or drinking. No penalty for non-compliance will be assessed, nor will the City be responsible for enforcement at this time. This resolution will take effect immediately upon passage and will automatically expire at the first meeting of the City Council in the year 2021, unless extended.
Dated this 23rd day of November, 2020.
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent:
______________________________
Gloria Hanson, Mayor
ATTEST:
(SEAL)
____________________________
Roxanne Heezen, Finance Officer
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