As of Monday, May 4th, businesses in Dell Rapids have been able to operate with less restrictions. The Dell Rapids City Council passed the second reading of Ordinance 878, which loosens the restrictions placed on businesses by Ordinance 876.
The biggest change with the new ordinance is the number of patrons the businesses can have. With Ordinance 876 businesses could only allow up to 10 patrons at a time, but Ordinance 878 will allow up to 50% of the maximum occupancy as determined by the City of Dell Rapids building or fie codes, whichever is greater. Businesses should also attempt to establish a minimum six-foot distance between any tables, chairs, or booths. That distance does not need to be followed by members of the same household.
City-owned property still remains closed until further notice by the Mayor. Those properties include City Hall, Dell Rapids Carnegie Library, the swimming pool, public bathrooms, and ball fields to organized groups or teams. The Mayor did open up the playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and ball fields to non organized groups and teams on Friday, May 1st.
Dell Rapids Mayor Tom Earley did state the churches were not tied to this city ordinance and could operate as they wished.
Mayor Earley also said during the council meeting, “My concern and my worry is as things start to loosen up somewhat and less restrictions that people don’t interpret that to mean the virus not as deadly as it used to be. No matter what we do, it doesn’t change anything about this virus. The virus is still the same. I think most people by now will realize that. The purpose here is to work with our businesses and as long as we maintain communication with them, what we expect, etc, I’m sure all of them are willing. Besides their businesses being at stake, they want to do the right thing. They don’t want to do anything that’s gonna screw up their businesses.”
Full Text of Ordinance 878
Dell Rapids Ordinance 878