After Missouri’s stay-at-home order ends at midnight tonight, many Republic businesses will open their doors for the first time in weeks Monday morning. The latest directive from Governor Mike Parson left much of the decision-making about specific rules in the hands of local officials. In Republic, those rules lean heavily toward guidance rather than mandates.
City administrator David Cameron said he and other city officials expect people in Republic to continue following health guidelines like staying six feet apart and limiting the size of gatherings, just as they’ve done for the past month or more.
“Our community has done very well at social distancing and self-policing, so while we provide a cautionary statement telling people that there’s still a threat that exists, it’s still up to individuals and business owners to do what they’ve always done, but at the same time act responsibly,” Cameron said.
As businesses open, the city’s focus will be on assistance rather than enforcement. The City Council passed a resolution last week laying out details. (See the full resolution here.) That resolution sets capacity for restaurants and includes other directives for how businesses can operate. But Cameron said the responsibility for implementing those plans will fall on business owners, whom he says have shown they can handle it.
“Our position is they were wise enough to start their business and be profitable in their business; they’re smart enough and wise enough to follow the guidelines and be creative and profitable at it,” he said.
Republic’s rules allow restaurants to use up to 50% of their capacity, as set by fire code, as long as tables are six feet apart. Parties are limited to ten people at a table. The city is still encouraging curbside pickup, drive-through and delivery options.
Another rule will allow restaurants to set up tables outside, even working with the city to block off some parking spaces to allow more tables safely. The number of people seated outside does not apply to the capacity limit inside. He stressed that he sees the city’s primary role as support for businesses as they try to get going again.
“We actually went business to business and hand-delivered the guidance. We didn’t just put out a document and say, ‘Try to navigate through it,’ he said. The city will work with business owners to meet the guidelines creatively without causing other issues like a fire hazard.
Businesses are not required to submit their plans in advance.
“They don’t have to submit a layout. They just need to follow the guidelines,” Cameron said.
Retail locations are limited to 25% of the fire or building code occupancy if they’re less than 10,000 square feet. Locations with more than 10,000 square feet are limited to 10% of their usual occupancy.
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Cameron said the city is taking the same approach toward churches. Although gatherings of more than 20 people are discouraged in the city’s resolution, they’re not outright prohibited.
“We came up with that in talking with health officials, and some of the messaging we were hearing that mass gatherings is the largest way to spread the disease,” he said. “So for us, we’re not telling churches they can or they can’t open. What we can say in our messaging to anyone is we’re not encouraging groups of more than 20 to get together.
“I’ve heard a lot of creative ways that people are looking at to have church. There’s some that say, ‘Listen, we can socially distance but keep families together.’ That’s up to each individual church, but there’s nothing in there to prohibit churches.”
Cameron said what he’s seen from Republic residents so far gives him hope that the “re-opening” will go well this week.
“I think there’s enough social personal policing that I’ve observed myself. That’s the intent, versus government requiring you to do it. I’m not going to put blinders on and tell you it’s been perfect. No one can. But I see the community trying their best to do it. We’re believing that when we open up, people are going to continue to do that. They’re going to exercise judgment and follow that (guidance), because they’re going to be happy to be back out there.”
If potential problems do come to the city’s attention, Cameron said they’ll handle it as they’ve done over the past month.
“We’ve received phone calls (from) people expressing concerns – not complaints – that there’s not enough distancing in certain locations. Sometimes we convey that to the owners, saying, ‘Listen, we fielded a call (and) just want to make you aware of it,'” he said. “That’s the position we’ve taken – an intermediary, where we would contact those businesses if necessary.”
As the city prepares to return to something resembling normal, Cameron said his major worry is about confusion over what’s allowed and what’s not.
“My biggest concern is having enough staff to be able to field the questions and provide the level of service we have from beginning to end.”