Dare County agrees to classify NRPO’s as resident property owners in future health emergencies
At a special morning meeting on July 6, the Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a settlement in the case of Bailey v. Dare County that would, in future public health emergencies, classify non-resident property owners the same way as residents and allow them the same entry into the county.
In that lawsuit, brought in federal court, the plaintiffs said their Constitutional rights were violated when county officials initially denied non-resident property owners access to the county during the COVID-19 outbreak. In approving the settlement, Dare County also agreed to pay $16,500 in legal costs, and County Manager Bobby Outten told the commissioners that the settlement was not an admission of fault or liability on the part of the county.
The decision to restrict access to non-resident property owners was a controversial one that spawned fierce and often angry debates on social media and elsewhere.
In a Voice interview, Dare County Manager Bobby Outten stressed that the settlement only applies to public health emergencies as defined by the WHO and would not include hurricanes or other natural disasters.
“There was no point in carrying it further,” he said of the Bailey v. Dare County litigation. When asked why the county had decided to settle, Outten said that original modeling had suggested that the return of non-resident property owners during the pandemic would have overloaded the health care system here. He acknowledged that the modeling had proved to be inaccurate.
“In hindsight,” he added, “the number of people who would have returned as non-resident property owners would not have been significant” in terms of worsening the COVID-19 outbreak in the county.
Thank you Bailey family for fighting the good fight. Constitutional rights were violated, the board should admit guilt and ensure tax paying NRPOs aren’t restricted regardless of the situation. The board was adamant that they had the power to implement a blockade months ago. They knew what they were doing was wrong from the beginning or they would have taken this case to court instead of negotiations. Cowardly tyrants who fail to admit when they’re wrong in order to salvage what’s left of their pathetic political career.
What a bizarre comment. First of all this article includes an alleged “cowardly tyrant” saying that “the modeling had proved to be inaccurate.” So I guess the “cowardly tyrant” was admitting they were wrong.
But more to the point, really? Was the modeling wrong? Since the place reopened to NRPOs and then tourons the case rate had jumped by 700%. No kidding. From 18 cases to – latest report – 146. Brush it off if you want, but this is not a normal disease and these are not normal times.
“They knew what they were doing was wrong from the beginning” is just dumb. Almost as dumb as blathering about “constitutional rights.” By that blind logic I can also drive drunk.
The board never admitted fault. It says it in the article. The modeling argument is completely irrevelant to the conversation. Outten was adamant that the board had the power under a state of emergency to illegally ban NRPOs. They just backed down from taking it to court, so obviously they knew they were wrong or have no idea what powers they have. Comparing this to driving drunk is bizarre. Driving drunk is illegal, going to a home you pay taxes on is not. If NRPOs coming down was illegal during the pandemic, then why did the board decide to back down? How can you prove it’s the NRPOs and Tourons fault when RPOs were able to come and go as they please.
Eye-roll.
Hmmm….why is drunk driving illegal? I wonder…
Maybe it’s because my right to swing my fist ends where your face begins. Or to put it in other terms, because my “constitutional rights” to use my “private property” are limited by the extent to which that use endangers others.
So no. “Comparing” this to drunk driving is absolutely not bizarre. Can you maybe get the general principle?
And – holy shizzle ROFL – the sudden 700+% increase in COVID cases is because of RPOs coming and going? Holy shizzle. ROFL is all I can say again.
^ What an idiot
Buddy, I thought we were friends.
ROFL. Dude. Is this a joke? “I though we were friends”? Get a clue man. Your “constitutional rights” are NOT under attack. There’s a public health emergency. Live with it. It’s not the fault of the Dare County admin.
Obvious sarcasm if you never read any of his other posts. You should have given Dare county your expert legal opinion. Clearly with you on their side they could have taken all this to court and won.
People want to sue because they think it is their right to be able to infect others in parts of the country where they do not live. Ridiculous