As Nevadans, we have breathlessly witnessed the
massive human toll that the coronavirus scourge has waged on our home state.
Mercifully, our corner of the state has been spared from widespread infection
rates like those seen in other parts of Nevada. In Elko, we have stepped-up and
embraced the CDC guidelines along with your emergency directives, with full
compliance.
Much like Clark County, our convention, casino,
tourism, airline and lodging sectors have been decimated. The CARES Act funding
for the Payroll Protection Plan has now been exhausted, leaving most of our
small businesses in our area unfunded and out of luck. If the shutdown is
extended beyond April 30th, many of our small businesses will never
reopen.
We are developing a comprehensive plan, and buy-in
from the business community to responsibly reopen in a deliberate and phased way
that will safeguard public health. It is understood that we can’t go back to
“business as usual,” and that some services and community recreational amenities
will need to be put on-hold. We will need to continue steadfast adherence with
CDC guidelines for an extended time. However, it is time to begin reopening on
May 1, and we are prepared for the challenge.
A large segment of our workforce will continue to be
sidelined as long as our K12 schools are shuttered.
It is imperative that our children return to school
and resume their studies, ensuring they will be ready to advance to the next
level in the fall. Due to our low population densities, there is relatively low
risk with the resumption of school. It will be a big morale boost for the kids
to return to the classroom so that they can escape the stress and boredom of the
lockdown.
Geographically, Elko County is the fourth largest
county in the US, and benefits from an extremely low population density. This is
a huge asset when it comes to the fight against the pandemic. Despite a mining
sector that relies on busing and carpooling to transport thousands of employees
each day to area mines, our operators have demonstrated that it can be done
safely and responsibly.
Many of my constituents in the business community are
longing for an end to the shutdown which was extended to April 30. Our
workforce, businesses and governmental entities are bleeding cash with each
successive day that this shutdown persists. If continued, many of us won’t have
jobs to return to.
We clearly understand that we have many “at risk”
citizens that will need to continue self-isolating in accordance with CDC
Guidelines. This is an unavoidable consequence associated with
pandemics.
While we care deeply about these individuals and their
health, the continued sacrifice of our statewide economy creates larger societal
problems. If the decision of a safe end to the shutdown were left solely to the
medical experts, they would likely extend the shutdown beyond the economic
“point of no return.” Despite the best of intentions, the models and projections
have been grossly overstated.
It is a given that we will see outbreaks and
“hotspots” into the foreseeable future. This virus is tenacious and will
continue to be a threat until we have either better medicines or a vaccine.
However, we cannot and must not continue to put our lives and civil liberties on
hold until it is deemed “safe” to resume a semi-normal state. If, and when we
experience an increase in new infection rates, we will be prepared to dial
things back accordingly in a measured response.
We accept the responsibility, and with this, we need
the flexibility to have local decision-making authority for our reopening
timetables and planning. Please consider that a “one size fits all” approach
does not work for a largely rural and sparsely populated Nevada. A statewide
extension mandate will further deepen the economic damage that we have already
incurred, plus it will be a huge psychological blow to the citizens that have
diligently complied with the orders. Crucially, a statewide extension will
invite civil disobedience and unrest. As mayor, I do not want to place our
police officers in the untenable position of having to enforce state directives
that are unpopular and impractical for our
community.
Let’s get back to work! The City of Elko supports the
reopening of the State of Nevada’s economy as well as responsible
decision-making authority at the local level.
Respectfully submitted,
Reece Keener Elko Mayor
STAR
STAR of the past...???
ROADs
SMILE...!!!
was a HAPPY CAMPER
SISOLAK of 
(...sister...)
LEIBSTANDARTE ADOLF HITLER, a BLACK SHIRT para military formation,
(...TOWN of LIDICE today...)
LAUNDRY with GOVERNOR
...)
