Mask debate gets an airing

While the Duluth City Council will vote on a proposal Monday to require people to wear masks in public spaces and gatherings, the Cloquet City Council isn’t quite ready to take that step.

Mayor Roger Maki broached the idea during a council discussion of ongoing pandemic measures by the city to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Maki pointed out that it’s a popular discussion point right now, with cities like Rochester, Mankato and Edina implementing requirements for face coverings recently. Additionally, Gov. Tim Walz said such a proposal was “on the table” last week.

“It would be easier if the governor [required mask wearing],” Maki said. “I’m OK for now, but maybe not in a couple weeks. There are too many people being cavalier in our community about this and I’m concerned.”

Ward 2 Councilor Sheila Lamb said the data supports the idea of requiring masks, pointing out the difference between “being inconvenienced” by wearing a mask and having one’s rights violated, for example, because a person is at a high risk of contracting the disease and people aren’t taking medically-advised precautions.

“I would absolutely support a mask requirement for all stores and any gatherings,” Lamb said.

City administrator Tim Peterson suggested researching what regulations are actually passing before proposing any action. Peterson said it was difficult enough to enforce some of the governor’s earlier orders regarding the pandemic and recommended social distancing.

“A lot of these take some voluntary following of orders,” Peterson said. “It would be tough for the police to be at every store to ensure this is happening.”

In other COVID-19 related news, councilors and the mayor agreed they will continue meeting virtually for now. Peterson said the city needs to figure out how it can allow the public back into meetings at City Hall, and how that would look with current social distancing recommendations.

Money to help local government cover some of the costs of responding to the pandemic has arrived.

Although the city of Cloquet already has $930,226 in CARES Act money in the bank, Peterson told city council members Tuesday that he recommends caution when spending the federal dollars.

He said the guidelines for how the money — part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act — can be spent are still very confusing.

Peterson is worried that a funding shortfall at the state level may mean that legislators send fewer Local Government Aid dollars to cities and counties.

“We are going to try to prepare as best we can for any cuts that may come to LGA,” he said. “That being one of two major funding sources for municipalities, I really want to protect us from having to make some difficult decisions later on that would include things like property tax increases or cutting staff.”

Lamb agreed, noting that many residents have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 measures, making any increases in property taxes tough to handle.

The CARES money was split up by Minnesota’s counties and cities based on population. Counties get about $120 per resident, while cities get $75 per resident and small towns $25 per resident. According to a press release from State Rep. Mike Sundin, the funds must be spent on approved COVID-19-related efforts by the end of the year.

In other matters:

• Councilors approved the appointment of Cloquet police officer Kristina Sather to the position of detective effective July 13. Sather will be the department’s second detective, along with Eric Baker, who was promoted earlier this year. Sather has been with the department for six years, mostly as a patrol officer, but she is also a field training officer and recently began taking classes in cell phone forensics. Additionally, police chief Derek Randall said the department is at 17 sworn officers out of an allotted 24 after recent hires and retirements, but they are working to fill two commander and police officer positions now.

• Councilors approved a change order for the water treatment plant that should fix a problem with cleaning the filters. Public works director Caleb Peterson said the project will cost the city about $10,500, as engineering costs are covered under the original construction contract. Peterson said the city was at a little over half a percent in total change orders for the $6.63 million project. “Anything under 5 percent is pretty good for a project like this,” he said.

• Councilors approved a bid to replace the floor and piping at Pine Valley Arena. The bid came in roughly $139,000 under the engineer’s estimate, which will give the city some room to adapt should there be change orders, which is likely given the age of the building, the public works director told the council. The vote to approve the project was 6-1, with Ward 5 Councilor Steve Langley dissenting. The council has now approved a total of $972,349 in work at both hockey arenas, to be funded with sales tax money.