Seifert pitches grading system to spur pandemic measure compliance

Lincoln County Health Board member Jim Seifert sketched out an audacious plan to press local businesses to adopt pandemic measures at the tail end of a Dec. 16 informational meeting for residents interested in learning about the panel.

Seifert, who recently joined the seven-person volunteer board as the Troy representative, took to the podium after his new colleagues and outside experts gave short talks on the board’s authority, finances and structure as well as the pandemic.

“I want to bring up a proposal,” Seifert said. “I want to do exactly what the health department already does with restaurants. I want to regulate public spaces for the same thing for our response to COVID-19.”

Under Seifert’s plan, health department officials would inspect area businesses to see how well they comply with state and local health orders. Each establishment would receive a letter grade posted on their entrance.

A shop that strictly enforces the mask and social distancing requirements would receive an A grade.

One that doesn’t, but ensures its employees are following the guidelines would get a B, Seifert said. If employees are seen haphazardly wearing masks, they might get a B minus and down the line until you end up with businesses that are flagrantly flouting the pandemic rules, he said.

As an example of what would earn an A grade, Seifert pointed to Trojan Lanes. Patrons are greeted with a face mask, he said. Seifert offered R Place as another example of a business that likely would receive high marks.

He pitched the idea as one that did not require law enforcement intervention. More importantly, it lets customers decide whether they want to risk their health by entering an establishment.

“We have the ability to post these ratings on the doors of the businesses and to publish them on social media or in newspapers and it will be a guide for the citizen to decide if that business is safe,” Seifert said.

Seifert held up an anecdote to illustrate his point. Earlier in the day, he went into a business on his way to Troy. He soon spotted an individual inside without a mask.

“I thought: If I had seen that rating on that door, I wouldn’t have gone in there,” Seifert said.

A system of posted grades might also give businesses an incentive to cooperate with the county health officer, board and department, he said. People will vote with their feet, he argued.

“Look at a grocery store, about 70 to 80 percent of people wear mask. The 20 percent that don’t? I bet 10 percent forgot them, but 10 percent say, ‘I’m not going to wear a mask,’” Seifert said. “Those people, that’s just their opinion and they probably aren’t going to change, but the 70 to 80 percent that are compliant, they’re going to vote.”

Seifert said he would like to see the grading system expanded to all public spaces excluding houses of worship and schools. He also envisioned adding an appeal process for entrepreneurs who rethink their stance after receiving a poor grade.

Acknowledging that he had not approached health department staff or his colleagues on the board beforehand, Seifert said he expected the idea to evolve a bit in the coming weeks. Kathi Hooper, health department director, said on Dec. 18 that her staff had not examined the proposal and would only study it at the direction of the health board.

Embracing pandemic restrictions now could spare lives later, Seifert said.

Health board Chair Jan Ivers thanked Seifert for his suggestion. She indicated the proposal could be before the full board for discussion as soon as its next meeting, which is scheduled for Jan. 13.