By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – The Minnehaha County Commission met in a special session on Wednesday, May 6, to adapt an emergency ordinance from March.
The original resolution adopted on March 27, limited business and gatherings within the unincorporated areas of the county to 10 people.
The new ordinance, unanimously passed, changed that slightly to read that establishment serving food, alcohol or beverages are still limited to 10 patrons, unless they can be seated in a way to keep them at least six feet apart.
The ordinance also takes into consideration larger venues, and the new wording allows them to operate at 50% of capacity, as long as they can maintain the same six-foot social distancing limits for different parties of people.
This meeting was attended by Commissioners Jean Bender, Jeff Barth and Dean Karsky, while Gerald Beninga called in, and Cindy Heiberger signed in using Zoom Videoconferencing.
Along with the new emergency resolution, commissioners also approved an agreement with the City of Sioux Falls to work at providing a place for people testing positive for COVID-19 listed as “vulnerable” (people who are homeless, addicted, in poverty, and/or suffering from mental health problems, etc.).
Minnehaha County Human Services Director Kari Benz explained how Sioux Falls had contracted with a hotel to house these people, and on Wednesday, the county approved up to $75,000 to help with relocating people after they have recovered and are able to leave the hotel.
Only one more meeting is planned this month on Tuesday, May 26.
All meetings are held on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
To attend, people need to check in with the deputy at the door on the west side of the building.
Public comments are always encouraged at the meetings, but the attendance in the main room is limited, and people are brought in as their item comes up on the agenda.
People are also encouraged to watch the meetings live on the Midco Citylink channel.
