Virus kicks up controversy in city

SANDPOINT — After weeks of stagnant reports in Bonner County, COVID-19 once again took center stage in the council chambers Wednesday night.

The COVID-19 conversation reconvened following the rise in the number of confirmed cases both at the state and local level. City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton provided a detailed presentation that examined the financial, social and political impacts of the novel coronavirus on Sandpoint residents and businesses.

Since the middle of June, Bonner County’s confirmed active cases went from single digits to 36 on Friday afternoon. This sudden increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases has forced businesses to close for a second time in order to minimize health and safety risks for customers and workers.

Earlier this year, city council awarded $10,000 to Bonner County Economic Development Corporation for businesses that were largely effected by the pandemic. However, BCEDC has already allocated most of its funds to local businesses in need.

“There already is discussion about the need for a second round and potentially a larger round of funding for our businesses,” Stapleton said. “A lot of the federal aid and the aid that was available to businesses and employees is beginning to dry up and sunset.”

She recommended the council allocate an additional $40,000 to BCEDC for financial assistance during the fall and winter months. City council will review this request next month when BCEDC shares up-to-date information on its recent distribution of funds and a draft of Sandpoint’s proposed 2021 budget becomes available for the public.

Along with business expenses, Sandpoint has spent $30,000 of its $299,600 CARES Act funds for the community’s public health needs including personal protective equipment, sanitization equipment, signs, disposable masks and more. The city has also made minor improvements to their technology systems to help staff members work remotely and to streamline online video tools such as Zoom to allow greater virtual attendance for city-run meetings. Stapleton said she would like to see more technology-related improvements included in the 2021 proposed budget.

“As we are seeing for tonight’s meeting, our rooms, our facilities were never designed … for all these recommendations we are dealing with around social distancing,” Stapleton said.

Only 15 seats were available for the public at the July 1 meeting because of strict social distancing protocol. Many residents waited hours in the hallway and parking lot for a chance to speak, as police officers could only filter in more attendees once a person left the chamber.

“They are trying to watch off of their cellphones, they are trying to do whatever they can with mobile devices to actively be able to hear and participate in this meeting tonight,” she said. “There are improvements needed on that front relative to our Wi-Fi, relative to other monitors and things we could do to accommodate overflow for this meeting.”

Although the state will not be reverting back to Stage III of the Idaho Rebounds program, Gov. Brad Little determined counties will have the option to move back a stage if their local health officials determine it is necessary. Ada County is the only county that has moved back to Stage III in response to its over 2,500 confirmed cases.

The city of Sandpoint decided council chambers will remain open. Face masks, though encouraged by city officials, will not be mandated for residents to wear in public.

Councilwoman Kate McAlister is one of the two council members who has actively worn a mask at city council meetings. She and the other members of Angels Over Sandpoint chose not to walk in the Fourth of July parade after 24 years of participation because of health concerns related to COVID-19.

Despite McAlister’s personal beliefs, she simultaneously advocated businesses should have the option to stay open and residents should have the option to protect themselves if they feel unsafe in public.

“I really would hesitate in going back to have businesses close down,” McAlister said. “I was speaking this morning (July 1) at the Sandpoint Rotary Club and there are those businesses that if there is another shutdown they will be gone, and more than you could even possibly think.”

Councilman Joel Aispuro also encouraged citizens to be accountable for themselves. He would like to see the council chamber remain open so the public can address their grievances face-to-face. “When we first moved online I did not like that one bit,” Aispuro said. “I think it’s good for the public to communicate toward us … I believe this is perfectly healthy, personally.”

Both McAlister and Aispuro said they respect community members who chose to self-quarantine, such as councilmembers John Darling and Deb Ruehle. Ruehle was the only councilmember who advocated for the city to mandate masks in public and shut down public events and activities for the remainder of COVID-19’s term.

“I have great passion for our businesses, but if we spiral so far out of control we will shut down to an even greater degree,” Ruehle said. “I appreciate personal responsibility but there are many people who are not showing personal responsibility for the others around them.”

Ruehle also mentioned Idaho’s hundreds of new cases daily. She argued Bonner County’s healthcare system and economy will be overwhelmed without early intervention.

Mayor Shelby Rognstad closed the discussion by naming four data points Panhandle Health District has been using to determine whether or not the rise in cases would warrant more stringent safety standards. These four points are the number of active cases, number of cases that have impacted healthcare workers, number of ICUs, ventilators and beds used and available and the status of elderly living, hospice and other long-term life care facilities. He said Panhandle Health District will be Bonner County’s decision maker.

“I thought it was important for us as a council to have an updated COVID-19 update and reconsider where we are at and reassess,” Rognstad said. “I, at the very least, advise internally that we set a good example and take all the necessary protocols that we can take, but what does that mean in terms of our athletic events, our sporting events, our parks and rec activities, our public events and permits?”

Four out of the six residents who spoke during the public forum on the city’s COVID-19 response agreed with Ruehle that there should be more local health regulations. However, the rest of the council members voted to allow public events to continue and public facilities to remain open. The council will continue to provide COVID-19 updates at their regular meetings.

Aly De Angelus can be reached by email at adeangelus@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @AlyvDailyBee.