Non-essential businesses in Watertown will have to remain closed at least another week (Audio)

April 20, 2020
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.—The emergency ordinance that the Watertown City Council passed last month to close some non-essential businesses in the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic will remain in place for at least another week.

That was the decision by the council Monday night after nearly an hour and a half of discussion and debate.

A motion to sunset the emergency ordinance at 11:59 p.m. on April 27th passed on a 9-1 vote.

Among those providing public testimony on the question of “when” to re-open non-essential businesses was Cindy Mydland, Director of Clinical Operations at Sanford Clinic Watertown. She spoke on behalf of the Unified Command Team made up of medical professionals and local elected leaders who agree, opening up now is just too soon….

Kathy McInroy owns a fitness club in downtown Watertown, The Gym Inc., which was one of those non-essential businesses that was forced to close….

Mayor Sarah Caron supports keeping the closures in place, for now, but at the same time starting discussions about a plan to get businesses re-opened….

The only dissenting vote on the motion came from Councilman Dan Albertsen, who favored keeping the restrictions in place for at least another two weeks.