Council to take up emergency ordinance

Ordinance would extend current provisions for preventing spread of COVID-19

Simpsonville, S.C. — Simpsonville City Council will hold a special meeting this week to consider an ordinance that would continue the state of emergency declaration first made in March in response to the current global pandemic.

Council will meet via an online meeting service Friday at 3 p.m. to vote on Emergency Ordinance 2020-03, which sets procedures for Council meetings and authorizes the city administrator to take actions listed in the ordinance to help prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019. The meeting will be live streamed via the City of Simpsonville YouTube Channel.

If adopted by Council, the ordinance would reaffirm provisions listed in the previous two emergency ordinances, including the allowance for Council to conduct meetings electronically and direction of the city administrator to provide public access to meetings via the internet.

The emergency ordinance adopted by Council May 12th automatically expires this weekend.

Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell said Council is doing its due diligence by calling the special meeting on Friday.

"As long as COVID-19 remains a public health concern, Simpsonville City Council will continue reassessing conditions and following federal and state guidelines to help protect residents and visitors," Campbell said. "The special meeting allows Council to consider and deliberate on a renewal of measures for preventing the spread of the virus."

Campbell added the ordinance on the agenda would renew provisions that have been in effect since Council passed its first 2020 emergency ordinance March 24.

If passed, Emergency Ordinance 2020-03 would expire early September.

For more information, contact Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell at jcampbell@simpsonville.com.