Keystone passes COVID-19 resolution

Resolution 4-2-2020 calling for a public healthy emergency due to COVID-19, also commonly known as coronavirus, was passed unanimously by the Keystone Town Board at its most recent town board meeting. 

The resolution offers five guidelines for every Keystone community member that includes reviewing and practicing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevetion (CDC) and South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) practices relating to hygiene be aware of the signs symptoms of COVID-19, understand who more vulnerable community members may be, implement social distancing measures and assisting essential workers.

The ordinance also encourages community members to “support businesses who are adjusting their business model to reduce the spread of COVID-19.” The resolution asks all employers within the town of Keystone to, “implement the recommended CDC & SD DOH hygiene practices and other business strategies designed to reduce the likelihood of spreading the disease.”

In addition, the resolution asks employers to be “understand that the COVID-19 is not a short term challenge” and that “operations will need to endure a difficult and limited social environment for potentially eight weeks or more.”

The resolution encourages employers to allow its staff to “telework if possible, implement social distancing measures, limit unnecessary work gatherings, limit non-essential travel, and consider regular health checks including CDC AND SD DOH guidance for COVID-19 screening if possible.”

Offering special shopping times for vulnerable populations was also encouraged. The resolution asks that any enclosed business that involved more than 10 people suspend or modify its practices and that businesses find innovative ways to offer business models that do not involve

public gatherings.

To this end, local business owner, Brenda Peterson, who owns the only restaurant in town that is still serving dine-in patrons, asked about off sale liquor. The board could not offer any assistance on this, as it is a state matter.

According to the resolution, the town will protect its infrastructure and ensure fiscal responsibility. It will also “ enforce its police powers to abate nuisances.”

The enforceability of the resolution, according to town attorney Mitch Johnson, is not feasible. Town board president, Rick Brandfas, assured residents that, “over the last couple weeks, the foundations, normalcy, and intricacies of our lives in Keystone have been shaken, disrupted, and reshaped. The financial lively-hoods of our proud and successful Keystone business community has been hit hard. Our friends, families in Keystone, our respected businesses, and the families and businesses surrounding us in Pennington County, have shared equally during this hardship. Keystone businesses, friends, families, and Pennington County I spoke of our spirits, our prosperity, and our livelihoods are being tested. We are at risk. But let me tell you this Keystone and Pennington County friends. We’ve been tested before. 1972. Family, friends, community, business and our faith, are the strengths and the ties that bind us all together. Have fear in this virus, but don’t let this shake the faith and hope for the future of our friends, families, and the businesses of our community so solid. We will conquer this. We will recover.” 

The town will suspend any water turn offs until after July 2. The town will also accept good faith efforts on utility bills, requiring a 50 percent payment of the current amount owed on a utility bill for customers who are struggling. Customers would need to sign a statement agreeing to the terms of repayment. The town  would waive late fees during the re-payment period. Customers who are unable to make full payments should contact town hall prior to the due date of the bill to set up a payment plan or to make partial payments. This was not voted on by trustees; however, the board consented to these measures as presented by Town Finance Officer Cassnadra Ott. 

Trustee Sandi McLain stated she would donate her pay back to the town. Ott encouraged all trustees to consider donating their pay back to the town.  Trustee Kwinn Neff stressed that donations to the senior center, which operates the food pantry for the town of Keystone, were also important at this time.

The next Keystone town board meeting will be held by conference call on April Wednesday April 15 at 9 a.m. To join the conference call dial 800-832-0736 and enter access code 3395370#.