SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Mitchell upheld its mask mandate while Yankton and Ft. Pierre passed on the policy as local governments across South Dakota consider the measure to slow the spread of COVID-19.
All three local government bodies had meetings Monday night to consider masking policies as the pandemic continues to surge in the state.
Mitchell upheld its mask mandate with a 5-3 council vote. Mayor Bob Everson originally enacted the mandate via executive order.
“I’m hoping it helps, because if it don’t, we’ve got to go to the next measure,” said Councilor Dan Sabers, who voted in favor of the mandate. “I don’t want to see closures; I don’t want to see closures; I don’t want to see school closing; I don’t want to see small businesses go out.”
Councilor Marty Barington voted no, saying mask-wearing should be a personal decision.
“I don’t think it’s my right to sit here and take the right away from others,” Barington said.
In Yankton, city commissioners voted 6-3 to pull a face mask resolution from their meeting agenda. Commissioner Stephanie Moser said a mandate could be divisive and put undue pressure on business owners who are already struggling during the pandemic.
Ft. Pierre passed a resolution 5-1 encouraging mask wearing but stopped short of a mandate. Mayor Gloria Hanson said she was concerned about enforcement if a mandate were to pass. She said she hoped the resolution “sends a strong message” to follow COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Sioux Falls enacted a mask mandate without an enforcement arm on November 17.
(JP Skelly, KORN, Jerry Oster, WNAX, and Jody Heemstra, Dakota Radio Group, contributed to this report.)
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