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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;The Board of Reno County Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday afternoon not to mandate mask use in Reno County, but still made it clear that they want people to choose individually to wear masks and that they consider it to be an act of responsible citizenship to do so."I believe we have some new numbers in Reno County that suggest that we're having some additional cases," said chairman Ron Sellers. "I think, from what we see nationally, we're going to have some increased spread and we need to, as citizens of Reno County, do our individual duty not only to protect us, but to protect others."Commissioner Ron Hurst noted that enforcement would be difficult given the limited resources of the Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's office, but he supports asking for individual responsibility when in proximity to other people."As Mr. Baldetti said, it's one of three items that we can do to help slow the spread," Hurst said. "It's not going to quit the spread, but it's going to slow the spread. That's wearing masks, that's proper hand hygiene and not touching your face and being careful when you're inside and around, people distancing I call it, instead of social distancing."Commissioner Bob Bush joined his two colleagues in support of the resolution, but all three of them noted that they're going to be watching how the numbers go with regard to policy in the weeks going forward."This is a health issue," Bush said. "This is not a civil liberties issue. It's a health issue. However, it has been painted as a civil liberties issue and once something is painted, you're not going to get that paint off. I'm going to support this resolution. I'm also very interested in seeing where we're at in two, three, four, six weeks. If we see a huge spike or a significant rise in active cases or in hospitalizations, then I will be the first to change my vote and recommend that we go to a requirement, even though there are difficulties in terms of enforcement of those requirements."The commission wants to see life go forward, including the opening of school in person in the fall and they believe that mask wearing is one thing citizens can do to make sure all the things they want to happen later this year can happen.

County Commissioners avoid mask mandate for now, want to see voluntary compliance