City Council holds special emergency meeting

By AUTUMN SHELTON

Lamar Democrat

The Lamar City Council held a special emergency session meeting on Monday, March 23, at Thiebaud. Beginning at 12 p.m., the meeting focused on the first and second readings of three city council bills relating to the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19).

With all city council members present except for Mark Gardner, there was originally a third line of business to allow the participation of an aldermen on the phone for Gardner to participate, which was dismissed because he was unavailable to do so.

Afterwards the group performed the first and second reading of Council Bill No. 1878, which states “It shall be unlawful for any person to violate, or assist someone in attempting to violate, or assist someone in violating, the rules and regulations of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services,” in relation to coronavirus proceedings.

The bill also says that it is illegal for anyone to, “leave any pesthouse, or isolation hospital, or quarantined house, or place without the consent of the health officer having jurisdiction, or who evades or breaks quarantine or knowingly conceals a case of contagious, infectious or communicable diseases, or who removes, destroys, obstructs from the view, or tears down any quarantine card, cloth or notice posed by the attending physician or by the health officer or by direction of a proper health officer.”

In addition, the bill recognizes that the Board of Aldermen can make quarantine laws and “enforce the same within five miles of the city.” This power, per Lamar Police Chief Rusty Rives, is already granted by a state statute. Currently, the fees/fines for breaking the ordinance have not been established.

Next was Council Bill No. 1879 which would authorize, “The Board of Aldermen to conduct meetings using video conference technology.”

Mayor Kent Harris stated that this bill would be used if the members could not meet in person during the upcoming months due to the Coronavirus. It also underwent a first and second reading.

The third and final council bill of the day, No. 1880, would declare, “A state of emergency within the city and providing authority to employ measures to protect the public, life, health, safety, and property and to limit the development, contraction, and spread of COVID-19.” It would be effective until July 20, 2020 or could be shortened/lengthened per the council’s discretion.

After discussion, the board voted to amend Section 3 of the bill by striking the language under part Q. Before being removed, part Q gave the mayor and/or the city administrator the power to order city departments to “take control of any means of supplies, transportation, or facilities; including buildings.” The concern was that this phrase was ambiguous and could mean that private property/residences could be taken as well.

As recorded on the bottom of each bill, soon to be ordinances, they were all passed the same day of the meeting and approved by Mayor Kent Harris.

After the second reading of the final bill and a mayor’s roundtable, the meeting was adjourned. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Monday, April 20, at 6 p.m., in Thiebaud.