County passes COVID-19 resolution

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BROOKINGS – Brookings County commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday to complement the recently passed City of Brookings ordinance that closed or limited services at certain businesses due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Brookings County Resolution No. 20-12 “encourages” for-profit and non-profit county businesses not affected by the city ordinance to follow the CDC’s recommended precautions and methods for combatting the COVID-19 virus by following hygiene protocols and temporarily suspending some services. The resolution does not mandate that businesses follow suit, but suggests they do.

The first part of the resolution recommends that county businesses do several things:

• Follow “CDC hygiene practices” to “reduce the likelihood of spreading the disease”;

• Understand combatting COVID-19 will take a long time, potentially eight weeks or more;

• Be innovative while safe;

• Encourage staff work from home if able, implement social distancing measures, limit unnecessary work gatherings, limit non-essential travel, and consider regular health checks; and

• Offer designated shopping times for those most at-risk (60-plus and/or those with pre-existing health concerns).

Part two of the resolution states that “any bar, restaurant, brewery, café, casino, coffee shop, recreational or athletic facility, health club, or entertainment venue within Brookings County should”:

• Suspend or modify business practices that involve any gatherings of 10 or more people in an “enclosed space,” and maintain a separation of 6 or more feet from one another;

• Consider or continue offering take-out, drive-thru, or any kind of off-site services; and

• “Consider business arrangements and innovative ideas intended to support the critical infrastructure sectors, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security.”

“Basically the difference between a resolution and an ordinance is that a resolution is a statement that we’re making that we’re encouraging compliance,” Commissioner Ryan Krogman said at Wednesday’s Commission meeting.

Whereas an ordinance is “enforceable with a violation attached to it if you’re found in violation,” State’s Attorney Dan Nelson said.

The commissioners agreed at Wednesday’s meeting that the resolution extends to April 7 with a re-evaluation on April 7.

To view the full resolution, visit https://www.brookingscountysd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/9063?fileID=7985.

Contact Matthew Rhodes at mrhodes@brookingsregister.com.