HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No specifics were given, but the Reno County Commission took more than an hour to discuss the possible reopening of the business sector and some of the guidelines that will likely be in place should the governor lift the stay-at-home ordinance next week.
Health Department Director Nick Baldetti went over the steps for getting the county back on its feet, but the finer details were not released with the first draft. Baldetti said that counties are taking different approaches when it comes to kick-starting the business sector. He noted that it was his choice not to target any specific business.
“I didn’t want to specifically call out certain industries,” Baldetti said. “We formed this steering committee very specifically for the expertise of the industry to come together under the oversight of public health that we can work for the best-laid plans to try and not restrict if we’re given the opportunity under the statewide governance.”
Commissioner Bob Bush noted that some businesses must strongly adhere to certain guidelines, especially when it comes to serving customers and proper hygiene.
“One of the comments we’ve had at many of the meetings is that it takes a while to change a culture,” Bush said. “We need to change that piece of the culture right now. And we need to give managers something to lean on.”
Bush said that all customer service businesses, especially restaurants, need to strictly adhere to such guidelines.
Any relaxing of the stay-at-home order will still require a lot of restrictions, such as social distancing and small groups in restaurants and other businesses. Commission Chair Ron Sellers also wanted to make sure that there was language in the document that would give the Health Department some leverage to deal with those few who simply do not want to follow the new guidelines.
“It just seems like to me from my standpoint the majority will do the right thing,” Sellers said. “But I don’t think as a county we should sit idly by and let some, quote, 'idiot' be irresponsible.”
Baldetti noted that the document gives him the authority to deal with anyone or any group that cannot follow the new guidelines or where the risk is unacceptable based on the ability of the county to provide care for the community.