Falls City Move To Enforce Quarantines Fails

FALLS CITY – A move to grant the Southeast District Health Department power to force quarantines within the city limits of Falls City failed Monday by a 3-2 vote of the city council.

The Falls City City Council earlier rejected a memorandum of understanding that would give the health district the authority for disease control and enforcement. The memorandum agreement would have granted authority to the health district for a year at a time, but the ordinance gives the city greater position to cancel.

City Clerk Gary Jorn said the city could undo an ordinance just as easily as it was first adopted.

The ordinance brought a 3-2 vote Monday, failing to get the majority needed for the eight-member council.  Councilmen Lucas Froeschl and Don Ferguson voted against the ordinance, while council members Kaylie Ractliffe, Derrick Leyden and Mitch Merz were absent.

Ferguson said he voted against it because he felt experts in health matters should have the accountability for making the decisions on disease control.

 Councilman Lucas Froeschl said the power to force quarantines can be misused

 

Mike Pickard, a Falls City resident, said the powers proposed in both the memorandum and Ordinance 2020-101 were too broad and wording was too vague.

He said it would have applied to any “communicable disease” and  would allow health officials to take control over any property it deemed a public health risk without a court order.

Pickard said accountability needs to stay with the elected city council.

Mayor Bindle said authority to manage a health crisis in the city is important.

The city received complaints regarding a person who had traveled outside of the area and was asked to self-quarantine.

The person took a COVID-19 test, but did not stay home while results were pending. When the person’s test came back positive, the public knew the person had been “roaming through the city” and complained to the city.