With the recent public health disaster proclamation from Governor Kim Reynolds, a number of restrictions and prohibitions have been put in place.

Some of the restrictions are social gatherings cannot be more than ten people, as well as a number of businesses are closed including all dining areas in restaurants and bars, fitness centers, theaters, casinos and adult daycare facilities. Restaurants can continue to serve food as carry-out, drive-thru or delivery options. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn says local law enforcement will be enforcing these new orders from the governor.

“I did, following the governor’s proclamation, send a memo to both of our local law enforcement agencies (the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Police Department), and reminding our officers that we as law enforcement officers have a duty to enforce this law. The Iowa Code gives us virtually no discretion. When the governor declares a public health emergency, the code states that law enforcement officers shall enforce the law. So we are going to enforce the law.”

Laehn says anyone found in violation of the two orders from the governor can be charged with a simple misdemeanor and in the case of the social gathering restriction, the subject can be arrested.