PHD urges calm at Thursday meeting
Panhandle Health said Thursday’s board of health meeting at the county administration building in Coeur d’Alene must remain orderly.
“Obstructive behavior will not be tolerated,” the public health district said in a Tuesday statement. “Protest signs are allowed outside, but will not be allowed inside the meeting room or building. Entrances and exits will be clearly marked for the public’s convenience and we ask that everyone behave with courtesy.”
The July 16 meeting brought a different atmosphere than past meetings, as the agenda item to discuss a possible mask mandate was met with a boisterous crowd, not only outside the meeting room but also in the parking lot, as about 100 protesters showed up to resist a mandate, which couldn’t come up for a vote after the motion couldn’t enlist a second from the board.
Thursday’s meeting will again discuss the possibility of a mandate, where the statement added that the district and board welcome public involvement.
“The public is invited to provide input regarding district-related issues that are included on the current agenda,” it read. “Prior to commenting, we ask that you fill out a public comment form that will be available at the meeting. These forms will include your name and you will be called to the podium when it is your turn to make your comment.”
Signs informing the public of social distancing and room capacity — 35 people max — will be posted beforehand. After making public comments, members of the public will be asked to leave so additional citizens can add their input.
The board members are appointed by commissioners from Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone counties to govern the Health District’s policies.
The board currently consists of three county commissioners, among others: Bonner County Commissioner Glen Bailey, Shoshone County Commissioner Mike Fitzgerald, Boundary County Commissioner Walt Kirby. In addition, Bonner County’s Allen Banks, PhD, Kootenai County RN Jai Nelson, Benewah County’s Marlow Thompson and Kootenai County’s Richard McLandress, MD, sit on the board.
The board, as well as mayors and Gov. Brad Little, can uniformly impose mask mandates.
Little was scheduled to come to Coeur d’Alene Thursday for a press conference in which he would discuss the state’s current health protocols while dealing with the pandemic. That press conference has been canceled.
In a town hall conference call Tuesday, Little — who has often stated in past interviews that he has no intention of implementing a statewide order to wear masks — answered a Coeur d’Alene resident’s plea for a mandate by saying he’s encouraged by the work Idaho is doing to try to slow the spread of the disease.
“We don’t currently have a statewide mask order,” Little added, “but I’ve been highly supportive of every community that’s done it. Because we’ve got counties that have zero positive cases right now, and we have counties like yours in Kootenai County where we have a very significant increase, and we’re trying to encourage the health districts and the mayors to do the right thing.”
Thursday’s meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. and can be livestreamed on YouTube.