By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
What went from a 3-2 vote in favor of keeping the mask mandate in Barton County last week, went to a 3-2 vote to rescind the requirement Monday as the Barton County Commission met as the local Board of Health.
Barton County is lifting the mask mandate effective at 12 p.m. Monday, March 29, and any future possible mandate from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly within the next week.
While Commissioners Kirby Krier and Shawn Hutchinson supported rescinding the mandate at last week’s meeting, Barb Esfeld noted she wanted time to hear from her constituents on the matter. Esfeld said she received more than 50 emails and phone calls in that time and only three were in favor of keeping the mask requirement. Esfeld, Krier and Hutchinson all voted to eliminate the mandate.
Hutchinson mentioned the mask mandate has been on his mind before he became a commissioner this past January.
"I respected the decision even though I disagreed with it," Hutchinson said. "I know our citizens are capable of using common sense and common courtesies, making a mandate an overreach of our powers. I believe after a year of this, we all know the universal precautions and can follow them without any sort of government intervention."
Barton County passed the county-wide mask mandate that went into effect Nov. 25. Around that time, there were over 300 active cases of COVID-19 within the county. According the latest report, there are currently eight active cases.
Commissioners Jennifer Schartz and Jim Daily voted to keep the mandate in place. Schartz, the former Public Information Officer for USD 428 in Great Bend, talked with the district’s superintendent Khris Thexton.
"He (Thexton) said at the very least, he would like to see the mask mandate run through the Easter holiday," Schartz said. "He would really prefer it remain through the end of school because his No. 1 concern is just finishing the school year. If the numbers get out of whack because of a decision we made, he is afraid they will have to stop the school year and go to remote learning."
The commission made it clear in a second motion to opt out of any possible statewide mandate that might come from the governor by the end of the month.
Businesses, organizations and cities can still require the use of masks within their building or jurisdiction if they choose.