Updated guidance clarifies campground question

GRESHAM — Updated guidance from the state last week on which businesses are considered essential during the COVID-19 pandemic relieved health and law enforcement officials of making a call as to whether Annie’s Campground in Gresham should stay open.

A more detailed list of essential and non-essential businesses was posted in an updated FAQ on the governor’s website April 1.

Campgrounds were listed as essential, as long as they follow strict hygiene and social distancing rules.

Even so, the Department of Natural Resources had already closed all of its campgrounds statewide.

The continued operation of Annie’s Campground sparked debate on social media, with some calling for it to be closed and others defending its right to remain open.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department received a complaint March 27 that the campground announced it was staying open.

Sheriff’s Capt. Ty Raddant said a deputy drove by the campground and it appeared to be closed, so no further action was taken.

Annie’s Campground owner Ann Retzlaff defended keeping the campground open in a March 27 interview, prior to the updated state guidelines.

Retzlaff said the campground’s bar and restaurant were closed down in the fall, as is usual for the season, and won’t reopen until Memorial Day weekend.

“The campground is opened year-round,” she said.

“As far as I know, I haven’t had any complaints,” Retzlaff said. “I know I’ve had a lot of liberal people that can’t think for themselves. I’m not one of those people, and I believe in my constitutional rights.”

Retzlaff, who also has a convenience store and a new business she said she is starting this year selling homeopathic products, said there is no one that has told her she cannot keep those businesses open.

“You talk about coronavirus crap. I believe there were 13 deaths in the state of Wisconsin alleging coronavirus,” she said.

“The state of Wisconsin is 5.8 million people, and we have 13 deaths,” Retzlaff said. “The statistics are insignificant. Why are we stopping our economy for that minuscule of a risk?”

Retzlaff also said not enough is known about the 13 people who died or whether they had other underlying illnesses.

“I’m not condoning death,” she said. “I don’t want anybody to die, but the reality is that people die every damn day.”

There were 13 reported coronavirus deaths in the state on March 27. As of April 5, that number had risen to 68.

Retzlaff suggested the media should instead be focused on the loss of constitutional rights she said is occurring under the coronavirus response.

“I would appreciate it if you wrote an article that talks about the Constitution and highlights some of the things that are being violated right now by our state government,” she said. “Why is the state of Wisconsin under economic lockdown for 13 deaths?”

Retzlaff also said in a subsequent email that the state had “zero competency” to call for a shutdown and called Gov. Tony Evers “a puppet weak on morals, ethics and integrity.”

She also accused the Leader of “being a part of the mass hysteria and loss of common sense” in its reporting about the coronavirus.

Shawano-Menominee Counties Public Health Director Vicki Dantoin said it is not the health department’s role to decide which businesses are or are not essential.

“We kind of leave it up to the entity to make that decision,” she said. “Right now, with everything going on, it’s not necessarily public health’s role to be telling every single entity who’s essential and not essential. We can encourage people to support these guidelines.”

Dantoin said the department follows up on calls that come in to make sure businesses that are remaining open are doing things properly.

“When we have more intense situations, then we ask our friends in law enforcement to help us out,” she said. “Our goal is to make sure people are staying home so this illness doesn’t spread.”

Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker said the governor’s Safer at Home order didn’t appear to present any issues with private campgrounds, where people can reside, freely travel or temporarily stay.

Campground trailers and campers have residential status under case law, Parker said.

“Not everyone has a house, and many people live in temporary type residences,” he said. “It is likely essential for people to be able to have a place where they have access to sanitation, water and electricity in order to exist.”

Sheriff Adam Bieber said the sheriff’s department believes the governor’s orders should be followed, but it also has a duty to uphold the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

“These are unprecedented and uncertain times, and we will proceed cautiously to enforce guidelines for public safety while protecting our rights listed in our Bill of Rights,” he said.

“Our community has done a great job conforming to the governor’s rules, despite them being murky and ever-changing,” Bieber said. “We work every day to educate and answer questions that the public may have.”

Bieber said if the department receives a complaint, it will be investigated.

“Generally, we have found that the complainant does not understand the governor’s orders, and it simply is a misunderstanding of what is allowed and what is not,” he said.

“If the information provided has merit, we generally will start with a call to the business or property owner to have a conversation with the owner about the information provided,” Bieber said. “We ask them if they are aware of the governor’s order. We inform them of the orders handed down by the state. We typically would document that we had the conversation just in case there are additional complaints. We document any and all information.”

Bieber said if there is continued non-compliance, information will be referred to the district attorney’s office.

Violation or obstruction of the governor’s order can bring a fine of $250 or up to 30 days in jail.

So far, there have been no cases referred to the district attorney’s office.

“We continue to work with our partners at the health department and district attorney’s office to protect our community and interpret these ever-changing rules,” Bieber said. “I am confident we will get through this as a community and am thankful to be part of a community that cares for each other.”

tryan@newmedia-wi.com