Town government open though doors closed

La Conner is operating under a Declaration of Emergency proclaimed by Mayor Ramon Hayes March 17 and approved by the Town Council March 24. Tuesday’s Council meeting was conducted by teleconference without the public present. Residents could call in.

“The declaration of emergency allows us to access additional authority if it becomes necessary and may allow us to access state and/or federal funds if they become available,” Scott Thomas, Town Administrator, wrote in an email March 17. Town Hall was closed to the public that day. Staff have been working remotely, each rotating into the building individually.

The Town updated its website last week to provide direction and answer any questions. “We are encouraging citizens to contact us by email and telephone,” Thomas wrote in a Friday email.

The website has a red “Alert” button for “Local Coronavirus Information” at the top of the homepage. Clicking it brings this announcement:

“The Town of La Conner is closely monitoring information and actions regarding the COVID-19 issue. We refer all inquiries regarding the illness to the Skagit County Health Department at http://www.skagitcounty.net/coronavirus. You may also contact the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. The Town will follow Health Department directions during this crisis.

“The La Conner Senior Center is closed until further notice.

“The La Conner Town Hall is Closed to the Public until further notice. Please view the below document for further information regarding utility bills, the Planning Department, Compost, Yard Waste, and other types of Town Hall business.”

This link “Further Information for the Town of La Conner,” takes you to a PDF file.

Under the heading “A Significant Public Health Crisis,” is this summary:

“COVID-19 is the most significant public health threat our community has seen. Coming together as a community with a commitment to implementing social distancing recommendations now will save lives. We do not know when this outbreak will end or what actions may be needed later. Our local, state, and federal leaders ask residents and the business community to work alongside us to help mitigate the effects of this serious health crisis. We sincerely appreciate your contribution to the community, and to our response efforts.”

Near the bottom is this sentence: “We must act now to mitigate the spread of this dangerous disease.”

Town Council’s Tuesday meeting was not open to the public. The agenda was limited to “essential business items.” Public comments were not possible in real time. Comments sent to Thomas will be provided to Council.

Postponed indefinitely are meetings of the La Conner Planning Commission, Arts Commission and Parks Commission.

Utility bills can be paid online, at the drop box outside the La Conner post office, by mail, or by check placed in the mail slot at Town Hall.

Until April there is no charge for yard waste drop-off at the sewer treatment plant during plant hours. No compost is available, either. The website recognizes the hardship this imposes on residents and businesses and notes staff “have determined that commercial exchanges place our staff at risk and may lead to spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

“These are strange times, and I have never experienced anything quite like this, so this is a work in progress,” Thomas wrote in a Monday email.

Hayes called Gov. Jay Inslee’s office Friday, advocating “shutting down the state for the period of time necessary to finally definitively deal with this issue. The piecemeal approach is not working.” Inslee’s staff took Hayes message.

Hayes can be reached at 360 708-7635.Thomas is at 360 466-3125; [email protected].