Gov. Inslee’s Office Contacted Wenatchee Mayor’s Office Over Social Distancing Complaints

Local officials are continuing to encourage social distancing measures, although enforcement is another story.

Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz said he got a call from Governor Inslee's office earlier in the month regard some complaints about retailers in the city not practicing enough social distancing.

"So I actually had to shower and shave and clean up and I went and met with our friends at Lowe's and Home Depot and Sav-Mart." Kuntz explained, "Most of the stores have done a really good job of adjusting. There's one that's not doing a very good job and (Chelan-Douglas Health District Administrator) Barry Kling is aware of it. So we're sort of letting Barry take the lead."

Although Police Chief Steve Crown has been out doing a little bit of patrolling, Kuntz reiterated to staff that it's Kling's office that should be in charge of enforcement.

"This is a health issue, it's a health crisis and so the health district really has the ability to shut down businesses and enforce the governor's rules. The city has very little control over that." Kuntz continued, "So I think I've asked staff, when they get questions, to refer them to the health district. Let the health district make those sorts of decisions. They're really the ones that have most of the control here."

Kuntz added that there are lots of laws that he knows about that aren't fair and he doesn't like, but right now we just have to abide by the laws we have.