Chambers of commerce support PHD decision

Health is top priority, leaders agree

The local chambers of commerce in Kootenai County, like everyone else in the area and around the country, are making the best of the unknown.

“We talked about this at our board meeting yesterday,” Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce CEO Derrell Hartwick said Friday. “The chamber wants to do anything we can to keep our businesses going during this time. But more importantly, we need to pay attention to the health factors affecting our businesses, because we want to keep anyone and everyone safe. That’s our top priority.”

Striking that balance between health regulations and economic freedom is a challenge local chambers echoed after Thursday’s decision by Panhandle Health District’s board of health to require all men, women and children over the age of 2 — with few exceptions — to wear masks over their noses and mouths. Those scales, at least for the time being, are tipping toward the health of the community.

“We support the leadership and authority of the Panhandle Health District,” Post Falls Chamber president Jamé Davis said, “and will continue to educate our membership on this topic, and support and bolster their economic development efforts by promoting their businesses and organizations. Providing opportunity for the business community is one of our main goals during this unprecedented time.”

While the mandate has been viewed by many as an overreaching ruling from a distant government, Hayden Chamber of Commerce executive director Kandi Johnson said Panhandle Health District has a vested interest in the business community, as well.

“We will support Panhandle Health District and the mandate that we now have,” Johnson said. “We do want our members to be smart and care for each other. Panhandle Health is one of our members, and we support them in their work. We know they have everyone’s best interests at heart.”

That said, Johnson said the mask mandate could leave a lasting impression on Hayden’s businesses.

“We have numerous event-type businesses that are going to be impacted by this,” she said. “One of the local businesses dresses up in Disney costumes and performs with singing, reading stories and interacting with others at birthday parties and special events. How are they going to adapt? We have another business that stages mystery-themed events that are really involved, costume-related appearances at events. How do they move forward?”

The manner in which businesses adapt, Johnson said, can depend on the size of those companies. Businesses run by larger corporations from afar might have an easier time educating employees and a more passive willingness to comply, but the employees at those larger stores will feel the brunt of customer backlash.

“Meanwhile, our small businesses might not have the means to supply personal protective supplies or extra manpower to staff the entrances, even if they’re willing to,” she said. “There’s this mandate that’s supposed to be enforced, but businesses might not be able to help enforce this while at the same time supply masks to everybody who walks through the door.”

Johnson stressed that businesses are often leading the pack to help champion public safety, a sentiment echoed by both Hartwick and Davis.

“Obviously, the biggest challenge (Kootenai County faces) is just executing this plan,” Hartwick said. “Business owners probably all have their own opinions on this. Enforcing this is going to be the biggest challenge. But we want everybody to follow Panhandle Health guidelines. Our community is great. If we’re going to do a mandate and abide by what the health district says, we need to support the district and listen to what everybody has to say. We want our business community to be a leader right now.”

All three chamber leaders said the best-case scenario for the business community will be an easing of COVID-19 cases across the county, leading to a loosening of restrictions, including Thursday’s mask mandate.

“If the business community can rally together and comply with the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the Panhandle Health District, perhaps we can help slow the spread and transmission of the COVID-19 virus,” Davis said. “I view it as a short-term pain, long-term gain for the health and well-being of our region. Getting back to business without health concerns or restrictions is the goal for not only our community, but for our country.”