WEST POINT — A narrow 3-2 Board of Selectmen vote Tuesday extended an ordinance requiring employees and customers to wear a face covering while shopping in retail stores until at least May 25.
The rule was first implemented to help curb the spread of COVID-19, but Ward 4 Selectman Keith McBrayer argued at City Hall during Tuesday’s meeting a mandate on citizens is no longer necessary and that citizens should instead be “highly encouraged” to wear masks or other face coverings while shopping at local retailers. He cited Mississippi State Department of Health data showing Clay’s 68 confirmed cases of the virus, including three deaths, represent the lowest totals in the Golden Triangle. Oktibbeha (five deaths) and Lowndes (three deaths) counties had 91 confirmed cases each as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to the data.
“We’re testing more but we’re not getting as many positive tests as we were anticipating,” McBrayer said before moving to end the face mask requirement immediately. “… After the discussions with the city of Starkville and what they’ve learned from their actions, I feel like we can learn from that and move in a better direction. It should be left up to the individual businesses.”
William Binder of Ward 2 offered a substitute motion to extend the ordinance, however, saying the timeline should match Gov. Tate Reeves’ “Safer at Home” executive order, although the state order does not require citizens to wear masks.
“The governor extended his order for two more weeks, I say we do it for two more weeks,” Binder said.
Ward 5’s Jasper Pittman, who along with Leta Turner of Ward 1, carried the vote to extend the requirement, pointed to MSDH data as a sign the city ordinance and other implemented safety measures were helping.
“The question we have to ask ourselves, do we have the lowest number because of the measures we take to stay safe?” Pittman said. “Because at one time, Starkville’s and our cases were almost the same. When Starkville dropped the (mask) requirement, their numbers went up. Columbus never did have a requirement. … If we say, ‘We’re good with nobody wearing a mask and doing what you want to do,’ and let the numbers peak up like everyone else, we failed. We failed as elected officials to do what’s right and keep people safe. It’s not a partisan thing or a protect your rights thing. It’s a safety thing.”
McBrayer countered by arguing the ordinance does not require customers to wear masks in restaurants, which are allowed to be open for dine-in services up to 50 percent capacity, nor are they required for either employees or customers in banks or accounting offices. Restaurant employees are required to wear masks.
“The confusion is, where am I supposed to wear it and where am I not supposed to wear it?” McBrayer said.
After a vote extended the ordinance, for which McBrayer and Ken Poole of Ward 3 were opposed, McBrayer offered two amendments — to only require retail employees with direct contact with customers to wear masks and to soften the penalties.
Both of those motions died without a second.
Violating the face mask ordinance carries a penalty of up to a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail.
“We can’t take the teeth out of it and expect to enforce it,” Binder said. “If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.”
In other business, selectmen extended the city’s moratorium on shutting off utilities for delinquent customers through June 10.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
