From the Mayor's Desk - Governor Noem's Executive Order

March 24, 2020

Governor Noem has announced an Executive Order regarding COVID-19 guidelines on Monday. Included in this order are recommendations to suspend or modify business practices for “enclosed retail businesses that promote public gathering”. Specifically, bars, restaurants, breweries, cafes, casinos, coffee shops, recreational or athletic facilities, health clubs, and entertainment venues. The key to this section applies to the aforementioned businesses involving ten or more people where physical separation of at least six feet is not possible.

The intent of the limited people and physical separation is to reduce the potential spread of the virus to large groups of people. Some of our local businesses have and will adhere to these guidelines and do their part to keep our community safe. In doing so, they reduce their profitability for the community’s sake. We sincerely thank these businesses for their cooperation and their commitment to keep us safe. Unfortunately, some business may choose to ignore this order to the detriment of our well-being. Our hope is these businesses will strongly consider what is at stake and operate accordingly.

These are trying and unprecedented times. Only as a community can we keep each other safe. The best advice I’ve heard is to behave as if you have contracted the virus and act accordingly. This too shall pass, but what we do today will determine the severity of our hardship. Please remember to wash your hands, practice social distancing, and pray.

Sincerely,

Michael Vetter, Mayor