Confusion, COVID questions from Town biz leaders as fiscal year ends leaders
Questions and confusion remained, as expressed by some of Farragut’s top business authorities, more than three months into the task of Town businesses attempting to abide by state and Knox County directives concerning the coronavirus pandemic.
Announcing “Knox County is going to adopt the Tennessee pledge” was Stephen Krempasky, Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Alliance executive director, about the 101-page state report of COVID-19 prevention guidelines Knox County adopted starting Wednesday, July 1.
An in-depth discussion about the confusion came during the Alliance’s monthly meeting Thursday morning, June 18, in Town Hall.
About all the updates and changes in state and Knox County pandemic requirements and guidelines since March, “My COVID bible just keeps getting bigger … very frustrating for my staff, my patrons,” said Alliance chair Candace Viox, owner of Water into Wine bistro & lounge in Farragut.
In fact, “… No restaurant in Knoxville is doing the same thing. And no one is enforcing this,” she added.
“I’ve already had a private meeting with (Knox County) Mayor (Glenn) Jacobs about it because I was really frustrated.”
Despite that meeting, Viox said her key questions remained.
If even inadvertently in violation of a COVID-19 prevention measure, “Am I going I be fined? Can I lose my license?” Viox said she asked. “Are we enforcing this?
“I would love for someone to explain it to me because right now every restaurant is doing their own thing,” she added.
Knox County Health Department, led by senior director Dr. Martha Buchanan, released the following “enforcement” information:
“The local guidance, as well as the state guidance, is largely education-based. Knox County’s Law Department has advised that there is no enforcement power behind the guidance, apart from situations in which known transmission is occurring.
“Both the local guidance and the state guidance largely rely on businesses and individuals to do the right thing,” the release further stated. “If individuals have a concern/complaint regarding a business, they can call 3-1-1. A member of our business guidance team will follow up and provide education to the business where it’s needed.”
“It’s changing on a daily basis. It’s very frustrating,” said Vice Mayor Louise Povlin, owner of Farragut’s Anytime Fitness.
As for the 101-page state report, Farragut Mayor Ron Williams said Knox County “may have some additions to it.”
“One of the things about the state is, they‘re updating things (where) they don’t necessarily re-phase it,” said Sue Stuhl, Farragut Parks and Recreation director. “There’s new things that come out from time to time. They’re pretty good about announcing that.”
