Commissioners consider Controlled Substance Ordinance

DAYTON-Columbia County Commissioners (BOCC)approve special meeting in response to proposed County Ordinance for Controlled Substance Possession on April 12.

The BOCC made the decision to hold a public hearing after being presented with a draft for a proposed County Ordinance for Controlled Substance Possession by Columbia County Prosecutor Dale Slack at the meeting March 22. As a result of State vs. Blake late last month, the statute making controlled substances possession illegal was deemed unconstitutional due to not differentiating between known and unknown possession. The ordinance will make known possession a gross misdemeanor. The draft includes a provision for the City of Dayton, if they are agreeable to it, according to Slack. Commissioner Chuck Amerein asked about the other ordinance the Commission agreed to pursue for protection from discrimination based on political views. Slack said they could both be presented at the same time. The time and location for the public hearing will be announced later and be advertised.

Public Health Administrator Martha Lanman reported the County has not had any positive cases for two and a half weeks. With the Governor's recent announcement that the entire State would move into Phase 3 on March 22, new metrics have been laid out for each county to meet. If these metrics are not met, then the county would move back to Phase 2, but Lanman said with the size of Columbia County population of just over 4000, it would take 30 cases over 14 days to move back and less than three hospitalizations over a week. Today, the State put out new guidelines for various businesses including an allowance of up to 50% capacity and up to 400 people in attendance for indoor and outdoor gatherings, provided attendees are masked and socially distanced. Sporting events with permanent seating can have up to 25% capacity.

In addition, Lanman said 140 vaccinations were scheduled to be administered Tuesday. The Governor opened up vaccinations for high-risk workers such as grocery store, food bank and food processing workers, public transportation workers and those who work in agriculture, corrections or the courts. The list also includes those who are 16 and older and pregnant or have a disability that makes them high-risk for severe COVID-19 illness. She indicated they are trying to reach those who are homebound to get them vaccinated as well.

She encourages anyone who wants the vaccine to get on the list, even if it hasn't opened up to their Phase.