SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls City Councilors are considering a new emergency ordinance to protect essential employees during the coronavirus pandemic.
Councilor Theresa Stehly said in an email to colleagues she and Councilor Janet Brekke are discussing an ordinance “that will include safety standards for protection of employees during this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Stehly’s announcement came one day after the Smithfield meatpacking plant in Sioux Falls received a “hot spot” designation from the state health department. The state says 190 cases of COVID-19 can be traced to the plant, largely from employees.
Smithfield is closing the plant for three days of cleaning starting Saturday and said the company is putting in new measures to slow the spread of the virus, including temperature checks, extra hand sanitizing stations, and restricting close gatherings.
Essential businesses like Smithfield aren’t covered in the city’s existing social distancing ordinance, which restricts business traffic to 10 customers at a time.
The council discussed employee protections at its meeting Tuesday when it was considering whether to extend the existing ordinance for another two weeks. Stehly proposed an amendment mandating essential businesses practice social distancing and instruct sick employees to stay home.
Councilor Pat Starr appeared to reference the situation at Smithfield in the ensuing discussion.
“I’ve received several calls from employees who have been offered bonuses, a $500 bonus, to stay at work for the next 30 days,” Starr said Tuesday. “That’s the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do.”
Smithfield is offering a $500 “responsibility bonus” to workers who stay at work through the month of April. The company says employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The amendment stalled after City Attorney Stacy Kooistra told the council the amendment would require a second reading to be approved, meaning the ordinance would lapse for a week if it passed. Councilors appeared open to discussing the issue in the future.
