Police Department And Village Put Together Meeting Regarding Re-Opening

“When you don’t see numbers or sickness, it’s hard to take. It’s frustrating,” said Village Administrator Scott Hildebrand during an impromptu meeting with a number of the business professionals of Turtle Lake in regards to a statement from the Polk County Sheriff indicating it was his opinion Polk County non-essential businesses could begin reopening Friday, April 24. Governor Evers Emergency Order #28 has extended the effective date from April 24 to May 26. Some local businessed had contacted the Village and Police Department feeling the order from the Polk County Sheriff was contrary to information they were hearing from the State and were curious as to where the Villag stood with the regulations.
Administrator Hildebrand told those in attendance the Village has been in constant contact with the State of Wisconsin and there is a lot of different information available.
“Thankfully we are in a rural area and have not seen much for numbers of those who have been infected with the virus.”
At the heart of the issue is a the Tuesday, April 21 social media post by Sheriff Waak indicating he feels extension of the Governor’s order is “an over-reach of the State Government.” Sheriff Waak went on to say he believes most Polk County businesses could safely operate with some protective measures in place such as social distancing and protective equipment for staff/patrons. “I believe that our business community can be innovative and reopen safely with everyone’s health in mind. I will work with our local Public Health officials to make sure our community continues to stay healthy and expect that we can safely start to reopen our economy.”
The following day, April 22, a joint statement was issued from the Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Health Department.
“The Polk County Health Department and Sheriff’s Office top priority is ensuring the health and safety of the residents of Polk County. This includes not only physical health, but mental, emotional and social health as well. We understand that in order to protect our physical health, the Safer at Home Order was necessary. We also understand how the Safer at Home Order has impacted our other areas of health. We share your desire for a return to normal so that we can be healthy in all areas. Together, we will work to create an environment that prioritizes the health of the public and works with the business community within the parameters of Governor Evers Emergency Order #28. Our goal is to proactively engage the business community to support a gradual return to normal while prioritizing the public’s health. This is be achieved by practicing physical distancing and other public health recommendations while adhering to Emergency Order #28.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, along with the COVID-19 Response Team, also sent out a statement on April 22.
“As we continue to evaluate everything that is going on around us, I want to inform you on how we will move forward in Barron County. Over the past few years, we have seen and dealt with many different types of issues and incidents. Each time it was not one person that made a decision. It was not one person that took action. It was a team of experts doing what was right for Barron County and the citizens we serve.
Coronavirus or COVID-19 is not any different. There is a strong team continually evaluating and planning to keep everyone safe. In March, when the first stay at home order was issued, the people of Barron County stepped up to keep us ALL safe. Many sacrifices have been made by all of you and we thank you.
We are asking you all to continue to support each other and us while these requests and plans are being made. There are smart people behind the scenes working on this and trying to do what is right for both the health and economy of Barron County. We will get there, just give us time to plan and set that plan in motion.
As Sheriff, I will make the determination if any enforcement action will be taken as a result of this order. I take the citizen’s rights in Barron County very seriously and I hold the safety of each of you and your loved ones very high.
What we do know is that social distancing, washing our hands and taking our own self- precautions is working in Barron County. We will continue to move forward with that plan and ask you to continue to do that with us while we ask for further clarification and a better plan to safely re-open Barron County and all the businesses that make us who we are.
The Safer at Home order has now been extended until May 26th. Again, the same team you
have entrusted with your safety and well-being is evaluating and looking for a plan of action to keep everyone safe while moving our communities forward. There may be a better way to safely move ahead than what is currently in place. Our team is working with the state and the legislature to see what our options may be. We want businesses to be able to open back up, but we need a plan to ensure the safety of everyone in Barron County.
It is our hope that the legislation and/or the courts address the pending lawsuits regarding the constitutionality of the order and give us some direction. We are working with our Corporation Council to determine the liability to the county if we enforce or fail to enforce it.
We are asking you all to continue to support each other and us while these requests and plans are being made. There are smart people behind the scenes working on this and trying to do what is right for both the health and economy of Barron County. We will get there, just give us time to plan and set that plan in motion.
As Sheriff, I will make the determination if any enforcement action will be taken as a result of this order. I take the citizen’s rights in Barron County very seriously and I hold the safety of each of you and your loved ones very high.
What we do know is that social distancing, washing our hands and taking our own self- precautions is working in Barron County. We will continue to move forward with that plan and ask you to continue to do that with us while we ask for further clarification and a better plan to safely re-open Barron County and all the businesses that make us who we are.
We are working as quickly as we can to find ways to make this better for us all. Our team includes our health care partners, public health, county government, economic development and many others. We are all working together to do what is best for our communities.
Right now, we have no issues in the county over noncompliance and have been working with everyone we can.
These are most certainly unprecedented times that continue to change quickly. We appreciate your support and patience as everyone works though this together. Please, support one another and keep #BarronCountyStrong. We will re-open Barron County safely, together.”
Turtle Lake is in a unique situation with village businesses located in both Polk and Barron counties. Police Chief Al Gabe said, “basically after Friday (April 24) you can open up and nothing will happen to you. We are not going to please everybody but we want to be as fair as possible. We don’t want to dictate what you can and can’t do.”
It was both Administrator Hildebrand and Chief Gabe’s recommendation to wait until the second week in May to reopen. That way they could monitor the first week of Polk County’s reopening.
“Give us a week,” Administrator Hildebrand said. “Let’s see how it goes the first week in Polk County. If their numbers stay the same then we have an argument. We need to make sure we stay safe.”
Lori Larson, one of the owners of Spare Time Bowl, Bar and Grill, commented the Polk County Health Department said they were following the governor’s order. She questioned who enforces the orders, the Department of Health Services or the local police.
Chief Gabe said the 12th will be the key date.
Larson asked, if the Tavern League says the 1st we should still wait until the 12th?
Jenny Swenson, owner of the Hotel Bar and Grill, asked what Barron County’s response was.
Chief Gabe said the sheriff is on board with what the Village wants to do as he knows the Village sits in two different counties.
Merilee LaPoint, WHFNP-BC, of Cumberland Healthcare to those in attendance, “We will know a lot more in the next two weeks when more testing becomes available.”
Safe distancing measures were discussed should the businesses open prior to the May 26 deadline. Chief Gabe said his department would work with the bars in creating outdoor seating. “Give us a drawing of your outdoor seating so we have an idea before the May 4 Village Board meeting.”
Also to be discussed at the Village Board meeting will be the upcoming liquor license renewals.
A second meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, April 29th in the Village Park.