State of Emergency Resolution approved

By Paul Hall on Friday, September 3rd, 2021 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE – City of La Grande passed a Resolution Declaring a State of Emergency for 60-days unless canceled by the City Council. Declaring a State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic means it would authorize the City of La Grande Manager to take actions necessary and appropriately protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of La Grande.

Following the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, Governor Kate Brown announced on August 11, 2021 The state of Oregon reinstated mask mandates indoors statewide. Due to the surge of COVID-19 being a public health crisis that threatens the health, safety, and welfare of La Grande and the Citizens of La Grande and constitutes an imminent threat of severe damage, injury, illness, human suffering, financial loss, and/or loss of life, City staff recommended that the Council again declare a state of emergency for the City of La Grande.City Manager Robert Strope told the City Council that he did not anticipate any specific actions that may need to be taken, but felt it was important to have the flexibility to respond quickly should the need arise. Mayor Clements added that he heard a rumor that the intent of the declaration was to impose more restrictions on the City but that this was just not true. Strope assured the City Council that any actions taken under the emergency declaration would be shared with the City Council and he would call an emergency meeting of the City Council so they could decide if any City-wide restrictions should be imposed to protect public safety.