MAPLETON – Councillor Michael Martin has clarified he meant no harm when he questioned the continued state-of-emergency at a council meeting earlier in the month.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, county emergency manager Linda Dickson gave a presentation to council to stress the importance of a strong leadership response to the pandemic. She said mayors across the county didn’t take the decision to declare a state-of-emergency lightly.
“I think the overall message and rationale for placing the declaration was to demonstrate to everyone how serious that the heads of council had with respect to the situation,” Dickson said. “I think lifting it too soon sends the wrong message.”
Martin responded to her presentation saying he was likely the reason she was brought before council.
At Mapleton’s previous council meeting, Martin questioned if being under a state of emergency was still necessary.
He expressed his desire to clarify what this questioning was and wasn’t.
“Number one, it was not a dig at mayor Davidson in any regards as far as his leadership goes during this pandemic,” Martin said to council. “Number two, I certainly don’t want to sound like I’m some hillbilly from Arkansas who doesn’t appreciate the ongoing pandemic.”
Martin said that it was just a political question and was just mentioning the extended length of the declaration that has historically been used just for days at a time that requires more on-the-spot decision making.
“I do understand that lifting the state-of-emergency even locally could send a message potentially to people that we’re open for business,” Martin said. “I certainly was not supporting lifting any restrictions.”
He went to thank Dickson and her team for the communication they have provided to the lower-tier municipalities during the pandemic.
“Locally for us as a council I think communication is super important,” Martin said. “Especially being in a state-of-emergency that’s lasted for weeks and months now.”
In response, Dickson said she appreciated his questions from a council decision making stand point. However, she warned about the effect a second-wave would have on a municipality that isn’t under a state-of-emergency.
“This has always been the concern from the beginning with a pandemic is the impact it has on the population and on your staff,” Dickson said. “I would say to keep it on until we’re pretty comfortable that we’re past anything that’s of any kind of concern from a second-wave.”
Mayor Gregg Davidson expressed his concern if members of council began to become ill. “If for some reason three members of our council ended up getting ill and weren’t able to participate, then having the emergency lifted would really handcuff this municipality on making decisions,” Davidson said.
