Othello to form group to address reopening the city

OTHELLO — How to begin reopening the city was a topic of discussion during the regular, online Othello City Council meeting on Monday, April 27. Among those joining the discussion were Sharon Skorick, manager for the Othello Chamber of Commerce; Chris Darrow, an Othello dentist and member of the Othello Planning Commission; and John Cox, also with the Othello Chamber of Commerce.

Skorick asked the council to put a plan and guidelines in place to help businesses know what is expected of them once Inslee allows them to reopen. Darrow took it a step further by recommending that a work group be formed to specifically address the needs of Othello businesses.

“Our experience is not like what everyone else’s is,” Darrow said. “If we wait for the state’s plan, we won’t be happy with it.”

Cox said that taking precautions is going to be the reality for a while.

“We need a way to prepare businesses,” Cox said. “People need to have confidence to proceed. This is our new normal for the foreseeable future.”

Darrow said that there are four main elements that businesses need to overcome to be able to open effectively: screening, personal protective equipment, social distancing and sterilization and disinfecting.

“If we got a group of people together, they could make a working plan that makes sense for Othello,” Darrow said. “If we wait, we’re going to get a 35-point plan.”

Othello Police Chief Phil Schenck and Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden agreed with the recommendations being presented by Darrow and Skorick. McFadden also encouraged the city to write a letter to the governor. Othello Mayor Shawn Login suggested that the members of the work group should come from a wide variety of community groups, including the Adams County Department of Health and churches.

“We need to be well represented and have a consensus moving forward,” Logan said. “We need to work with the community.”

The council approved the formation of the work group.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].