Hayden declares state of emergency

The city of Hayden joined other cities in Kootenai County Tuesday when it declared a state of emergency because of the coronavirus.

Mayor Steve Griffitts at a special meeting read the proclamation, which was unanimously approved by council members.

The declaration comes on the heels of a state and federal declaration and recommendations issued last week by Panhandle Health to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The declaration allows the city to forego normal procedures when allocating funds for disaster relief and gives the city flexibility in bill collecting.

“It gives us the ability to spend money and not go through the bidding process,” city administrator Brett Boyer said.

The declaration also allows the city to provide grace periods for residents to pay bills such as city water and sewer bills, or make “modifications to processes, procedures and fees …” according to the declaration.

It also allows the city to make regulations “to preserve the public health.”

The declaration’s wording was broad enough to council members to adopt projects to help keep senior citizens or children safe, but no specific programs were ratified at Tuesday’s meeting.

“It gives us the ability to take action aside from our normal procedures and rules,” Boyer said.

Council member Roger Saterfiel said the city is in a position to ensure children who are not in school because of closures, but who relied on free or reduced cost breakfast and school lunches, are still being fed. He also wanted assurance senior citizens were still getting meals.

If not, he said the city could step in as part of an emergency effort.

“We want to make sure the meals on wheels program continues,” Saterfiel said.

Matt Roetter wondered if the city could tap into federal funding, if funding becomes available because of the emergency declaration, to prevent tenants who have lost service industry jobs because of the virus scare, from being evicted.

“People can’t work, or they can’t get to their jobs,” Roetter said. “I don’t know how far this is going to go.”

The economic impacts on the community could be worse than the health impact, he said.

“The financial part could be worse, depending on how prolonged this is,” he said.

Griffitts also adopted a proclamation making Hayden a city of neighbors that he hoped would resonate with community members.

The proclamation encourages neighbors to check on each other, communicate with each other and help each other.

“… Get to know your neighbors … generally serve them,” Griffitts said as he read the proclamation.

Because response to the virus is changing daily, city attorney Caitlin Kling said the emergency declaration must be renewed in a week.

“This is changing every day,” Kling said.

Despite the declaration however, the city must continue to abide by open meeting laws, which means the public must be allowed input and access to city business, even if it is provided via telecommunication as opposed to face-to-face meetings.

The council also opted to keep City Hall open for the time being, and to leave next week’s regular council meeting, as well as two public hearings, on the calendar.

Hayden was among four cities, including Coeur d’Alene, Rathdrum and Post Falls, to adopt an emergency declaration this week.