Brown condemns irresponsible elected officials urging defiance
Governor Kate Brown has condemned elected officials encouraging their constituents to defy her public safety mandates to control the COVID-19 pandemic, warning Oregonians that local officials have no power to countermand her orders, or to protect people who follow their suggestions.
Yamhill County commissioners recently passed a board order that claims county residents and business owners cannot be penalized for failing to follow the governor’s orders, although County Counsel Christian Boenisch said it wasn’t intended to encourage defiance of the governor’s orders.
Brown said in a press release her orders have ben saved lives, and that violating them puts everyone at risk.
December 15, 2020
County COVID resolution comes under attack from residents
Sixteen people submitted public comments last week, all in opposition, regarding a resolution introduced by county commissioner Mary Starrett.
Starrett hopes to persuade commissioners Rick Olson and Casey Kulla to pass the document stating county businesses and individuals cannot be penalized for failing to follow the governor’s executive orders regarding public health and COVID-19.
County attorney Christian Boenisch said the resolution was not intended to challenge the governor’s authority to issue executive orders, and would not be a “get out of jail free card.”
Commissioners tabled the discussion after Kulla objected that neither he nor Olson were given the opportunity to read a study Starrett relied on for data and language in crafting the resolution.
December 18, 2020
COVID-19 resolution passes on a split vote
County commissioners voted two to one on Thursday to approve a board order that states they mistrust all data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority and are affirming that county businesses should not be penalized for violating the governor’s mandates for public safety regarding COVID-19.
Board chair Casey Kulla cast the lone opposing vote, after a lengthy debate among the three, in which Kulla argued the order would open the county to liability and give false hope to business owners that they could reopen in defiance of the governor’s orders. He noted that many e-mails to commissioners in support of the order indicated their belief that it would allow them to reopen.
December 10, 2020
Commissioners debate resolution on COVID rules
County commissioners on Thursday debated a resolution proposed by Mary Starrett that she said would protect businesses violating the governor’s executive orders on COVID-19.
They eventually decided to continue the discussion next week.
The resolution questions all facts about the disease rates and death rates reported by the state of Oregon. It states that it constitutes evidence for use in court that “persons and entities, including medical providers, within Yamhill County are not subject to findings of negligence per-se on the sole basis of having engaged in activities that are inconsistent with executive orders related to the Coronavirus.”
December 18, 2020
COVID-19 resolution passes on a split vote
County commissioners voted two to one on Thursday to approve a board order that states they mistrust all data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Oregon Health Authority and are affirming that county businesses should not be penalized for violating the governor’s mandates for public safety regarding COVID-19.
Board chair Casey Kulla cast the lone opposing vote, after a lengthy debate among the three, in which Kulla argued the order would open the county to liability and give false hope to business owners that they could reopen in defiance of the governor’s orders. He noted that many e-mails to commissioners in support of the order indicated their belief that it would allow them to reopen.