Polk Times

City of Lake Wales issued the following announcement on Aug. 5

City commissioners Tuesday night approved the first reading of a proposed local ordinance that would make face coverings mandatory during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Commissioners will have a second reading, and possible adoption, at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August. 18

The group also considered approving the ordinance on an emergency basis – which would have gone into effect immediately – but that idea did not pass.

Mayor Eugene Fultz and Commissioners Robin Gibson and Terrye Howell voted in favor of both the emergency and regular ordinances, while Commissioners Curtis Gibson and Al Goldstein voted against them.

In order for the ordinance to be passed as an emergency measure, it needed four votes for approval. By considering it as a normal newly introduced ordinance, with a first and second reading, it needed just three votes to pass. The wording in each ordinance – which were considered and voted on separately – was identical, according to City Attorney Chuck Galloway, and do include medical and other relevant exemptions.

An emergency ordinance would be in effect for only 30 days, while a regular ordinance can be rescinded at any time by a vote of the commission.

In July, the commission unanimously endorsed a resolution – not an ordinance – that strongly encouraged the wearing of face coverings

Commissioner Robin Gibson said it was a tough decision, but a mandate would be proper.

“When the five of us ran for this office, to try and help the community, I don’t think any of us thought we’d be faced with this. We didn’t bargain for this,” he noted. “There are people I respect a great deal that are on both sides of this thing. When you’re sitting in this seat, you don’t get a chance to make a 60/40 decision. You’ve got to be all or nothing. You’re either for or against. This is our responsibility. A state of emergency has been declared and we’re expected to do something about it. We can’t run and hide. It’s our obligation to protect the health of our people. We can’t dodge that responsibility.”

Howell said she was concerned about the city telling private retailers how to conduct their business, but that health concerns outweighed that issue.

“I still like the resolution we have because I’m thinking it did help with people wearing masks and trying to protect others. I’m not very fond of this ordinance, but I am fond of people wearing masks,” Howell said. “I’m for protecting the people of Lake Wales. I want to help the ones that want to be helped from the ones that are not wearing a mask.”

Mayor Gene Fultz said protecting all citizens was part of his duty.

“Nobody wants to impose upon people’s lives and restrict them from being able to live their lives, but I feel as though this is something that’s going to help us protect the citizens, which is the thing we actually declared we’d do when we were elected, not only protect their money, but their lives,” Fultz indicated.

Goldstein said he was especially concerned about the enforcement of the measure, while Curtis Gibson said he was comfortable that Lake Wales residents were already doing enough.

“I’m not going to put the Lake Wales Police Department in jeopardy again. The referendum we passed a month or so ago is working. Every store I walk into, people are wearing masks, and most stores have a sign. I think a mandate is just putting the police in jeopardy and just working against normal business in the city. Common sense goes a long way.”

Commissioner Curtis Gibson said he is pleased with what’s already in place, and also expressed concern over enforcement issues.

“Nobody has said we’re against wearing masks. We have a resolution right now and it’s been working,” he said. “When I’m going out, I’m wearing a mask. I go to Walmart, people are wearing their masks. I go to Wawa, people are wearing their masks. So I have faith in the people of Lake Wales. We’re doing what’s right, protecting others by putting on our masks. We’re following the right procedures and protocols.”

Polk County Healthy Commissioner Dr. Joy Jackson suggested earlier in Tuesday’s meeting, during a COVID-19 update, that wearing masks was one of the important steps people can take to help stop spreading the virus.

“The reason masks are so important is that it’s estimated that 40 to 45 percent of people who are infected are asymptomatic. They feel well. They don’t know they’re infected. If they don’t know they’re contagious, they don’t know that they’re transmitting it,” Dr. Jackson said. “A mask can help serve as a simple barrier to help those respiratory droplets from traveling. Research is increasingly favoring both individual mask wearing, and policy regarding universal masking. It suggests that masks not only help stop the spread but that policies requiring masks work to significantly slow community transmission.”

Original source can be found here.