MAYOR’S EMERGENCY DECLARATION 20-01 PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

CITY OF MOUNTAIN IRON

MAYOR’S EMERGENCY DECLARATION 20-01 PROCLAMATION AND DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY

DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND STRATEGIES TO PROTECT RESIDENTS

RECITALS

1.  A new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans, can easily spread from person to person and causes a disease commonly known as “COVID-19,” which is a respiratory disease that can result in serious injury or death;
2. On January 21, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the United States; on March 6, 2020, the first case ofCOVID-19 was detected in the State of Minnesota; and as of March 16, 2020, there are fifty-four known cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota;
3. On January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, beginning on January 27, 2020;
4. On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was identified by the World Health Organization as a pandemic, and the United States Centers for Disease Control has provided guidance for individuals, healthcare professionals, and businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19, which include cancelling or postponing in-person events that involve more than fifty people for eight weeks;
5. On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a National Emergency;
6. On March 13, 2020, Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime State of Emergency to authorize and all necessary resources to be used in support of the COVID-19 response;
7. The City of Mountain Iron Emergency Management Team has been working diligently with local, state, and federal partners to maintain situational awareness and respond to COVID-19;
8. The City Administrator finds that COVID-19 threatens the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the community and will cause a significant impact on the ability of public safety personnel to address any immediate dangers to the public;
9. The City Administrator has determined that the necessary resources to respond to and recover from this pandemic will exceed those resources available within the City of Mountain Iron, and additional resources will be needed from Saint Louis County, state and federal sources.

NOW, THEREFORE, MAYOR SKALKO OF THE CITY OF MOUNTAIN IRON PROCLAIMS, DECLARES, REQUESTS, AND DIRECTS AS FOLLOWS:

 DECLARATIONS

1.  Under the authority given by Minnesota Statutes, Section 12.29, declares that a local emergency exists within the City of Mountain Iron, effective March 20, 2020, with all the powers and responsibilities attending thereto as provided by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12, and further proclaims that such emergency constitutes a declared emergency pursuant to Mountain Iron City Code Section 33.
2. Directs City Staff to review ordinance and regulatory requirements, operations, civil and legal proceedings, events, and resources to determine whether the foregoing should be adjusted or suspended, and to make recommendations regarding additional emergency regulations to support the employees and residents of the City of Mountain Iron.
3. Directs all City departments and offices to operate and support the response to this incident, including implementing new employee protocols, strategies, and processes to ensure that public services are
4. Directs the appropriate City staff to request and coordinate appropriate aid and resources from surrounding jurisdictions, Saint Louis County, the State of Minnesota, and the Federal government, as
5. Declares, under Minnesota Statues, Section 13D.021, that in-person meetings of the City Council, Planning Commission, and other advisory commissions of the City may not be practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 health pandemic and hereby directs that meetings of the City Council, Planning Commission, and other advisory commissions of the City may be conducted by telephone or other electronic
6. Requests that the City Council convene an emergency session at its earliest convenience to further discuss this Emergency Declaration. This Emergency Declaration shall continue for a period of three (3) days from its effective date of March 20, 2020, unless further extended by or with the consent of the City Council pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 29, subd. 1.
7. Orders that this Emergency Declaration be given prompt and general publicity and that it be filed by the City

Dated this 20th day of March 2020

Mayor Gary Skalko