Tiger Tots owner drops COVID-19 health rules challenge
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The owner of a Columbia daycare has dropped his case seeking to stop COVID-19-related health orders issued by the county and city health director.
Boone County Judge Brouck Jacobs agreed to dismiss the case Wednesday after a request from Paul Prevo, owner of Tiger Tots.
Prevo sued Columbia/Boone County health director Stephanie Browning on May 11, asking a judge to halt or overturn rules restricting business that are meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. Those regulations were put in place May 4 but were replaced May 26 by less stringent restrictions.
“We choose to dismiss because most of the issues affecting the community raised by the orders (group sizes, community gatherings, ability for businesses to be open, no end dates to plan for, no timeline moving forward) have been addressed," Prevo said in a statement sent to ABC 17 News.
"When releasing the most recent guidelines the (county health department) stated that moving forward there would be community consultation. The dialogue and cooperation by the health department to better inform and involve the citizens of Boone County has improved. We look forward to being a continuing part of that dialogue,” Prevo said.
Browning laid out a timeline for relaxing restrictions throughout the summer on May 18 -- just a few days after Prevo's attorneys argued in a court hearing for Jacobs to put a temporary halt to the law while the case moved forward.
Jacobs denied that request and later removed Browning from the case in her capacity as the county health director. Browning, who serves dual roles for the city and county, remained a defendant in the case because of her role with the City of Columbia.
Regulations now in place through June 22 have eased limits on the number of occupants that can be inside businesses at one time. The new regulations also increased the size of stable groups in daycare centers from 10 children and caregivers to 25.
Public gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed under the new rules and some sports activities have resumed.
A Tiger Tots student tested positive last week for COVID-19. The daycare said that following the group restrictions, enhanced sanitation and other measures helped to keep the virus from spreading.
