MENDOTA – The Mendota City Council held a special meeting on March 31 and the council reauthorized an ordinance giving the mayor the authority to declare a state of emergency. Upon that authorization, Mayor David Boelk declared that a Local State of Emergency exists on March 30, and shall continue until such time as provided in Ordinance 03-16-20, which was approved at the March 16 council meeting.

As a result of this declaration and during its term, Mayor Boelk may exercise all powers necessary to respond to COVID-19 and preserve the public health, safety and welfare, including without limitation, the following activities: activate the city’s emergency operations plan; suspend provisions of any regulatory ordinance or law prescribing procedures for conduct of city business, or the orders, rules and regulations of any city department, if strict compliance with provisions of any ordinance, order, rule or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with the public health emergency caused by COVID-19; recommend or direct in-place sheltering or quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and exercise any other power not inconsistent with the State and Federal law to respond to and contain COVID-19.

Further, all meetings of the City Council and its committees of the city of presently scheduled during the length of this declaration are hereby cancelled.

This declaration shall be effective immediately and remain in effect until April 14, 2020 or until the adjournment of the next regular or special meeting of the city council, whichever comes first, unless sooner terminated by a proclamation of the mayor, or, his or her interim emergency successor, indicating that the civil emergency no longer exists. The mayor or his or her interim successor, shall have the power to re-proclaim the existence of an emergency at the end of each 15-day period during this time said emergency exists.