SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls’ proposed “stay at home” ordinance was officially withdrawn at the Sioux Falls City Council meeting Tuesday night.
The council voted unanimously to pull the ordinance from consideration. The city’s existing “no lingering” ordinance, which limits non-essential businesses to 10 customers at a time, was extended through May 15.
Mayor Paul TenHaken introduced the stay at home ordinance Wednesday but pulled his support Friday after reviewing new modeling from the city and the area’s major health care providers.
TenHaken said both Avera Health and Sanford Health support withdrawing the ordinance but said the move “should not send a message of complacency” to the people of Sioux Falls.
“I’m worried that it sends a little message of spiking a football, that ‘Hey, we’re good; we don’t have to do this,’” TenHaken said. “We’re still in the first inning of this.”
Councilors passed the first reading of the ordinance unanimously Wednesday, with many saying they were concerned about the proposal but wanted to consider it further. The council got a closer look at modeling projecting the virus’ peak at an informational meeting Friday.
“Heaven forbid something changes for the worse, but as we sit right now today, with the facts we have in front of us, I believe we do not need the stay at home ordinance,” Councilor Curt Soehl said Tuesday.
