By Wendy Sweeter
The Tea City Council held a special meeting March 24 for the purpose of discussing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor John Lawler noted that he had spent a lot of time on phone calls the last couple of days with other cities and mayors. They have been reviewing resolutions and ordinances from Huron, Rapid City, Brookings, Yankton and Sioux Falls.
Lawler noted that they have an obligation to do the right thing for citizens and businesses. He noted that he was going to hold a meeting for business owners on March 25.
The council reviewed the proposed resolution that basically states that they are adopting what Gov. Kristi Noem put in place earlier in the week. The resolution recommends following CDC guidelines and encourages businesses to suspend or modify business practices. To read the full resolution, turn to page 6.
The council approved the resolution so it went into effect immediately.
The council also held the first reading of the COVID-19 ordinance. The council discussed essential and non-essential businesses, as well as communal gatherings and social distancing. They also talked about inspections and suggested that inspections continue on new construction but not on remodels. They also talked about including a section on daycares that Yankton has in their ordinance.
A second reading of the ordinance will happen on or before the scheduled April 6 council meeting.
The council also briefly discussed the impact the downturn in sales tax could have on the city budget.
The council adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
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