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Special City Council Minutes <br /> May 12, 2020 <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br /> ------------------------------ <br /> Constitutional lawyer or anything. Council Member Akerson stated that he does not want <br /> to get anyone in trouble and he does not thing the Council can make that decision. <br /> Council Member Pederson stated that laws cannot be made by a single person but <br /> proclamations can be made as well as emergency orders. He stated that the orders and <br /> whether they are followed or not can always be challenged. He also stated that only the <br /> legislators can make laws and this is not a law but it is a Governor's Order. <br /> Police Officer Kate Petersen stated that from what she has read and what she has <br /> looked into is the penalty for violating an executive order is a thousand dollar fine or <br /> ninety days in jail. She stated that they are not seeing law enforcement from Crow wing <br /> enforcing it at this moment and they are not seeing some of the neighboring agencies <br /> enforcing it either. She stated that she does not see the department enforcing it unless <br /> there is somebody doing something in the business that is jeopardizing other people's <br /> health that are going inside that business. Ms. Petersen said she and Chief Klang would <br /> like to see businesses have plans set up for social distancing and safety. <br /> Council Member Swanson stated that this is all new territory for her and believes they <br /> should wait until the 18th to see if the Governor lets businesses open. She asked what <br /> happened to the City of Lakefield when they submitted this, have they opened and what <br /> is their experience since they submitted their resolution. She stated that she is the last <br /> person to think that they should lay all this hardship on the businesses but they are <br /> walking where we have never walked before. She said she believes they should wait to <br /> see what the Governor says on the about opening on the 18th. Officer Petersen stated <br /> that Chief Klang is having a meeting with a Commissioner the following day and he may <br /> have more insight to help them decide if they would to wait to approve the resolution. <br /> Council Member Akerson said the liability they are opening themselves up to is far too <br /> great and discussed this being a dangerous situation especially when doctors are telling <br /> him to stay in the house. <br /> Discussion ensued about the possibility of the Governor's peace time emergency being <br /> extended until the 12th of June. Council Member Swanson stated if it was extend that <br /> long she would be agreeable to sending in or submitting this resolution. Council <br /> Member Pederson said that he does not think they need to even submit it but just make <br /> this proclamation and open up for business. Council Member Swanson asked if it will <br /> carry weight at all and inquired what the City of Lakefield did with their proclamation. Ms. <br /> Malecha stated that she believes they submitted it to the Governor's office and State <br /> Representatives. <br /> Council Member Pederson stated that the Pequot Lakes Chamber has developed a plan <br /> and given out quite a bit of information to businesses on how to stay safe. He discussed <br /> his irritation with some business that can be open and compared the similar products <br /> sold in businesses that are not allowed to be open. He talked about some business that <br /> are currently open that they are not following the CDC safety guidelines. He stated that <br /> he believes they have every opportunity to deem the City's businesses as essential if the <br /> same essential product is being sold at them compared to other businesses that are <br /> currently open in the Community and County. He stated that these businesses need to <br /> open, or we can say goodbye to a third of our businesses or more. He stated that they <br />