The Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted Thursday to extend the city’s emergency orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic with one alderman opposing.
Ward 3 Alderman Sir Jonathan Rucker voted against extending the actions, stating that he believes the city’s rules are stronger than the orders issued by Gov. Tate Reeves.
Mayor Diane Delaware said it is common for cities to have stronger restrictions than the state’s order.
“There is not another municipality that I’m aware of that does not have its own emergency order in place,” she said.
Delaware said she has spoken to the governor’s office three times to confirm that the city has the right to enact its own emergency orders.
“I’m just wondering who you talked to from the governor’s office because I have a copy of a letter from a local business that says they don’t have to comply with the order because they are an essential business,” Rucker said.
Rucker said he fears the city could be sued by a business that lost revenue because it was forced to close.
“You’re saying one thing, but the governor of Mississippi is saying another thing,” Rucker said.
“I did not fib or lie," Delaware said. “The letter you have is from a business, not the governor. I will be happy to give you the number to the governor’s office.
Rucker asked City Attorney Lilli Evans Bass if the city could be held liable for business losses.
Bass said that the only issue the city has encountered regarded some businesses where limitations had been set on how many people could be in the business at the same time. She said those issues have been resolved.
Ward 4 Alderwoman Elizabeth Thomas took issue with the city limiting events to five people while the state’s guidelines sets the limit at 10. She said for events like funerals, five is too restrictive.
“We have not limited the number of people who go to the cemetery,” Delaware said. “We’re simply limiting the number of people who can at the same time.”
Delaware said the city has to address these issues for public safety.
“Some of the COVID that is being spread is being spread at funerals and churches,” Delaware said. “These are difficult choices, but these are choices we are responsible for making.”
“As long as the family members are six feet apart, how many people can go into the cemetery to a loved one’s funeral,” Thomas asked.
“There can be no gathering in Yazoo City of more than five people,” Delaware said. “Two hundred people can go to the grave, they just have to go five people at a time.”
