Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Thursday evening via telephone conferencing, and not in person at City Hall.

Considered was a Resolution for additional emergency measures to lessen the spread of COVID-19.

Mayor Heinrich said the Draft Resolution tightens the original Temporary Emergency Order to mandate the general public to wear face masks in public along with people in retail and service businesses, including  all indoor and outdoor environments where they are exposed to non-household members and where social distancing of six feet or more cannot be assured

Some of the exemptions include while eating and drinking in public places, worship services, healthcare workers, athletic events, and activities, and those with medical conditions where wearing a face mask will not be required.

The Resolution does not include a penalty.

Council Member Schloegel said the Resolution needs to be amended to include a penalty.

Mayor Heinrich said businesses can mandate that face masks are required within the business which can be enforced by asking the customer to leave the business.  He added the state may have to pass any penalty requirement.

He said since the Temporary Emergency Order when into effect earlier this month he has seen more face mask wearing in Jamestown.

Police Chief Edinger said penalties may not be constitutional. However police will investigate the reason the person is not wearing a mask.

Council Member Steele said he leaves a place of business if a person is not wearing a mask.

He pointed out that his family will not gather together in person, for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and that any person entering a home outside of the immediate family unit would have to mask up along with that family in the home.

Meals would need to be served in separate rooms, to mitigate the spread of the virus from a person outside the family unit.

He said individuals need to better understand how COVID-19 is spread from person to person.

He added if masking up is not improved, then further action by resolution may be required.

Assistant City Attorney Abby Gerioux said a penalty is not appropriate in this resolution.

Schloegel said this Resolution mandate is better than the previous Resolution, of wearing  face masks in public.  He said  public discussion such as Thursday’s meeting is good information for the public to hear.

The City Council unanimously approved the Resolution, for additional emergency measures, mandating the wearing of face masks, but without penalty.

Jamestown and Stutsman County officials from emergency services and healthcare support the city in mandating stronger COVID-prevention measures.  Those include, Central Valley Health District, Jamestown Regional Medical Center, and Jamestown Area Ambulance Service.

Also on Thursday’s agenda.

RESOLUTIONS:

A PUBLIC HEARING: Concerning the special assessment list for the Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #19-41. No one spoke.

Following the Public Hearing, the City Council approved the special assessments for Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #19-41, in the total amount of $2,471,130.46, less the City Share of $427,974.38, with the balance of $2,043,156.08 to be assessed to benefited properties within the district.

Another  PUBLIC HEARING  Concerned an ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 4 of Appendix C, and to enact Section 5.4.4 of Appendix C of the City Code of the City of Jamestown, ND, pertaining to Planned Unit Development District (PUD), as amended by the Planning Commission on October 9, 2020.  No one spoke.

 

SECOND READING: OF AN ORDINANCE: to amend and re-enact Section 4 – Establishment of Districts, and to enact Section 5.4.4. Planned Unit Development District, all of Appendix C of the City Code, as amended, by the Planning Commission on October 9, 2020, was approved.

The meeting audio from was live from a phone conference, on CSi Cable 67,  followed by replays.

Previously…

On November 2 the City Council approved that the  temporary emergency measures be extended for the immediate future, and may be further extended or earlier terminated as needed. which was passed on a 4-1 vote with Council Member Buchanan opposed.

Mayor Heinrich suggested the Temporary Emergency Order be extended for the immediate future, and remain in effect for the duration of the emergency, and may be further extended or earlier terminated as needed, with that motion passing on a 4-1 vote with Council Member Buchanan opposed, saying the Order was not strict enough.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich has said, “As Mayor of Jamestown, I have the authority to strengthen our safety practices through policy changes such as: public mask mandates and early shut down of bars and restaurants and restrictions for local gatherings (i.e. weddings, community events, etc.) Changes will not be made without consultation with local health and safety officials of the Emergency Operation Center of the community’s conditions.”

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Previously…

Jamestown  (CSi)   The Jamestown City Council will consider a mask mandate Thursday, a mandate the healthcare community supports.  (The Council Chambers is limited to 8 occupants. The lobby is limited to 11.)

Click here to join the meeting  

– Access the meeting at 701-566-9575, Phone Conference ID: 864 805 063#

The special meeting is at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The meeting will be live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich says, “As Mayor of Jamestown, I have the authority to strengthen our safety practices through policy changes such as: public mask mandates and early shut down of bars and restaurants and restrictions for local gatherings (i.e. weddings, community events, etc.) Changes will not be made without consultation with local health and safety officials of the Emergency Operation Center of the community’s conditions.”

On Monday November 9, 2020 Governor Doug Burgum moved all counties in North Dakota to the high-risk (orange) level. Businesses and events/gatherings are recommended to reduce occupancy to 25%, with a cap of 50 people. No standing room options should be allowed and face coverings should be required.

Jamestown and Stutsman County officials from emergency services and healthcare are support the city in mandating stronger COVID-prevention measures.

Central Valley Health District, Unit Administrator, Robin Iszler says, Stutsman County is seeing increasing numbers of positives in the community.  Residents must take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID, she said. This includes wearing masks at work, church or any event where participants might come in close contact with others. Recent positive cases have occurred from exposure at workplaces, family and social gatherings, schools and sporting events. Mask are not a perfect preventative measure, however, combined with handwashing and physical distancing, the community can collectively curb the spread.

Iszler says, for example, a hairdresser who was positive did not spread the virus to her clients because both she and the clients wore masks.

She adds, “This is an example of how masks work”  saying masks prevent the spread of the virus. Wearing one also limits an individual’s chance of being exposed.

Neighboring communities including Carrington, New Rockford and Edgeley have already enacted mask mandates to protect their residents, schools and businesses.

JRMC President & CEO Mike Delfs, says, Jamestown Regional Medical Center supports a community-wide mask mandate. Based upon the most reputable, professionally recognized and accepted expertise of organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the North Dakota Department of Health and National Institutes of Health, the scientific data is clear: wearing a mask is the most effective action any individual can take to bend the curve and limit the spread of COVID-19. Masking is not perfect, however, it does help.

 

Delfs says, “Our healthcare system, both within JRMC and within the state, is strained.  We are stretching resources like beds and personnel. Even if you don’t mask for you, please mask for others. We are a generous community. I know we can do this. We’re in this together.”

 

Others in healthcare agree.

Andrew Berkey operations manager for Jamestown Area Ambulance, says, “We walk down the halls at hospitals here and in bigger cities. It’s haunting. All you see are closed doors and all you hear is coughing. A mask mandate will protect our fellow citizens and our frontline workers. Mask up Jamestown.”

The purpose of the mask mandate is to protect the health of the community. A mask mandate would also protect the business community.

Heinrich adds, “Our goal is to keep our local business and economy going and schools open. For this to happen, our residents need to be healthy and our community data needs to improve.”

The Jamestown City Council will consider a mandate at its special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.  The meeting will be shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.