JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The City of Jamestown met in special session Monday evening to pass a resolution declaring an emergency in response to the coronavirus.
The declaration would give the city of Jamestown access to potential funding if any damages were to come from the global pandemic.
Before passing the resolution, several members of the community spoke. Central Valley Health Unit Administrator Robin Iszler provided the latest she had received from the CDC and North Dakota Department of Health.
Iszler added that they are doing fit testing for respirator masks in the region.
Iszler says they also continue to provide the latest facts and information to the public as they receive it.
David Klein, Executive Director of the Great Plains Housing Authority, also asked the public to keep service providers in mind with the extra duress they may be under during this time.
He added that this will be a time of increased anxiety and stress, but there are tools they can use such as calling 211.
Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist stated that there are counties and other jurisdictions that are also declaring emergencies, but he’s unsure how many will be doing that.
Bergquist added that there are dollars attached to the National declaration, but there is not certain answer for that just now. He says this declaration paves the way for access to that funding when it comes. He says the county will also be review an emergency declaration Tuesday.
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich stated that they wanted to pass the resolution as soon as possible.
Heinrich read aloud the resolution, stated that they find the city is in danger of suffering as a result of the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution was passed unanimously.
City Administrator Sarah Hellekson says they will also be hosting city meetings in the future through a telephone system, which members of the public can access by calling 701-566-9575. The first 200 callers will be allowed in the meeting via phone.
For questions related to COVID-19, the public can call the NDDoH health hotline at 866-207-2880 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals who need medical advice should contact their health care provider.
For the most updated and timely information related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus , follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.