SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken has asked Governor Kristi Noem to consider a shelter in place order for Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“They are reviewing that, they are looking at that now and determining it that’s something that’s right right now,” TenHaken said. “The Governor and I had about a half hour call it today. It’s something I’d certainly like to see.”
He also said that though the state’s public health emergency order for Minnehaha County, speaking in general terms, the police or the National Guard could enforce a situation where there was non-compliance with the order if someone is ignoring quarantine or spreading the virus.”
TenHaken said he “clarified” with Smithfield the nature of their three-day closure that began today. He said it wasn’t a total shut down as he first thought but that portions of the plant were being shut down at a time to facilitate cleaning and retooling more anti-coronavirus guards.
He also said that if Smithfield were to be shut down, there would still have to be some employees there to operate the plant’s wastewater system.
The Mayor also said he has been talking Smithfield union representatives and that they were in agreement with a shutdown. TenHaken says he urges Smithfield to pay the workers if they have to shut down for the recommended two weeks.
But shutting down a plant the size of Smithfield’s is not easy.
“It’s a complicated operation,” TenHaken said. “It’s not like shutting down an Arby’s, flipping off a light then opening it up in 14 days.”
The Mayor also co-signed a letter with the Governor today (Saturday) to close the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls for 14 days.
He said he had received hundreds of emails from workers and family members worried about their safety. TenHaken said that weighed heavily on his decision to ask for the shutdown.
TenHaken and top officials from Sanford and Avera Health held a special news conference today at 4 p.m.
