County commission issues proclamation of State of Emergency in Maries County

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 3/25/20

VIENNA — Maries County officials held an emergency meeting last Friday morning and readdressed what they had done the day before as they reacted to the changes in the information about the …

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County commission issues proclamation of State of Emergency in Maries County

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VIENNA — Maries County officials held an emergency meeting last Friday morning and readdressed what they had done the day before as they reacted to the changes in the information about the coronavirus. An individual in Pulaski County tested positive for the virus.

Vienna Mayor Tyler “TC” James said the council members held an emergency meeting with Phelps-Maries Health Department Director Ashley Wann Thursday evening. After that meeting, Mayor James said they wanted to limit the number of people dining in at city restaurants but the city lacked to authority to do it. County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers said the health department can do it.

Treasurer Rhonda Slone said The Maries County Bank closed the lobby in all of its locations and she wondered if they should close the courthouse. Mayor James said they gave the city clerk authorization to close city hall if she wants, but for now she was keeping it open.

Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said the health department’s staff is trained about this and they should make the decision, or the governor should. Mayor James said Wann told the council if the county doesn’t act the city should. However the city attorney said the city does not have the authority or an ordinance to do it. In Phelps County the businesses came to the county commission and asked them to mandate no dining in and only doing carry out services at restaurants. This is because with the commission’s mandate, they may be able to file insurance claims for loss of profit.

Wann had pointed out two things that swayed the mayor. First is that business owners in Phelps County wanted to be able to make insurance claims and that it would help having the mandate if there is government assistance to businesses at a later date. And secondly, that Phelps, Gasconade, Dent and Osage counties which are all around Maries County, mandated no dining in at the restaurants in their counties. He said if Maries County does not limit the number of diners at a time, people will come here from other places to eat out and possibly bring the virus with them. He added people already are staying home. The city does not have any authority to make mandates on restaurants. Wann suggested to the city council that restaurants cut their seating capacity by 50 percent. James said, “Business is slow but we have the chance of people coming here.”

Sheriff Deputy and Emergency Management Director Scott John said the night before his church made the decision to not have worship services. They are a small congregation but with so many churches closing people still want to attend services and may have come to their church instead.John said they may have had a full house so they decided not to have services for now.

Prosecuting Attorney Tony Skouby was on a phone listening to the meeting. “We’re living in interesting times, folks,” adding there will be people who will try to lay blame on them no matter what they do. However, people are looking to the county to make a decision.

John said he has the Phelps County order and the county does have the authority to make mandates or additional health rules, orders, ordinances and regulations to prevent infectious diseases in the county.

Skouby said they did it because of the positive virus case in Pulaski County, an adjoining county, and with the recommendation of the health department, supported by the EMD. Once an order is made, it can be reassessed as the needs change.

Stratman said he doesn’t think they need to shut down the courthouse but if they do, he thinks they need to continue to pay the employees. Skouby said the county may be able to be reimbursed for it. Fagre said if some don’t work and get paid, how will they pay the ones who do work—double? Stratman said they all have important work but these are serious times.

He mentioned the road workers not being around people and they could still work. Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel said, “If one goes, they all go.” Fagre agreed, saying they can’t pick and choose who gets to go home and who has to stay and work. “All go home or all stay,” Drewel said.

At that point, the health department director, Ashley Wann, arrived. She’d had an emotionally taxing week at work. She told the group, “Yesterday and today it hit.” An individual in Pulaski County tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and all the counties surrounding Pulaski have declared an emergency. Within the declaration are stipulations on large gatherings and ceasing dine-in restaurant service, but doing carry out/curbside instead, with no eating on the premises. “We’re going to be the lone duck out there,” Wann said about restaurants in Maries County being open. “They will come here.” She said social spacing is already happening here but they need to act. She suggested mandating a 50 percent reduction in dining spaces in restaurants, which the group thinks is happening naturally as people are staying home. But reducing the number of people allowed inside a restaurant will tell people in other counties not to come here. There is not much  enforcement legally as it will fall to the business owner to keep down the number of customers. Skouby said he would not file any charges against businesses who already are going to be hurting economically in this crisis.

Wann said from her standpoint, a full lockdown would be best but she appreciated the dynamics of Maries County. Skouby said the county is “the last hold out.” It was noted they have the option of making changes to the declaration as the situation changes.

The emergency declaration was put together by John who used a template and made it applicable to Maries County. By order of the county commission, citizens are asked to follow the CDC guidelines to limit the size of mass gatherings to 50 people or less, avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people and to avoid dining and drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, and encouraged them to use drive-thru pickup or other delivery options. Any public accommodation is asked to decrease occupancy by at least 50 percent to encourage social distancing.

Wann said she has the authority to make the declaration but would rather it be a joint effort. Maries County’s needs are not the same as the other counties. The governor said the declarations of emergency need to be done on a local level. Drewel said she and the health department have the expertise on this issue. “You know a lot more than I do,” he said. “I feel you should be the one to make the call.”

Wann responded saying, “We are a united front. We are in this together. A lot has changed.” Everyone agreed. Stratman said he thinks they should sign the declaration. They will reevaluate the declaration in two weeks or at any time before that if it is needed. They plan to review and revise it on April 6 if needed.

Skouby said they can send courthouse workers home as needed and can use drop boxes for safety. But, things can change in the next few days. “It’s coming our way. We can restrict it and ease it up as we can,” he said.

Wann said she hopes they put all this in place for nothing.

Skouby said he heard some Missouri National Guard units have been called up.

The commissioners signed the declaration of emergency document. It will be put out to the public through various sources.

Editor’s Note: The preceding article was written following an emergency meeting of county officials, the Vienna mayor and the health department on Friday morning, March 20.