During their Nov. 9 meeting, Bethel City Council will again consider a series of COVID-19 emergency ordinances. They’ll also consider whether to dip into the city budget to cover legal fees. Plus, the police department wants to auction off vehicles.
COVID-19 Emergency Ordinances
Up for renewal during the meeting is the citywide mask mandate. Another ordinance requires unvaccinated people to either quarantine or test for COVID-19 when traveling to Bethel. And there’s a measure up for renewal that allows households and businesses to accrue a certain amount of debt before the city shuts off their water services.
This bundle of ordinances came back up for renewal more quickly than usual. Normally the council re-considers its COVID-19 emergency ordinances every two months. It’s been less than half that time since the council last voted to approve the measures, but they’re set to expire ahead of the next regular meeting in mid-December. City council canceled its regular meeting the week of Thanksgiving and its meeting the week of Christmas.
Also on the agenda is an ordinance that could allow the public back into city meetings. At the meeting prior, city council had voted to bar the public from attending in-person. That was in part because the administration hadn’t laid out the council chambers in city hall in a way they felt was COVID-19-safe. Now, Mayor Mark Springer said that there’s plexiglass up between council members and more spacing for the audience.
City Clerk Lori Strickler said that the council chambers can now hold up to 18 people. That number includes council members and city staff.
Legal Fees
Also on the agenda is a public hearing for a budget item that would continue to fund the city in its legal battle against two bed and breakfast owners: Dan and Dawn Hackney. The Hackneys have an ongoing legal dispute against the city. The city shut down their bed and breakfast after saying that it didn’t comply with city code. The administration is requesting an additional $30,000 from city council to cover legal expenses.
Police Auction
And finally, there’s an item on the agenda to allow the Bethel Police Department to auction vehicles by sealed bid. The auction list includes the city’s abandoned and surplus cars, ATVs, several working snow machines and two broken ones.
