HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With nearly two hours of discussion, Reno County Commissioners approved keeping the current health order implemented this week in place until January 18, 2021.
Several heated exchanges took place between medical officials and the commission. The issue surrounded the mandate of wearing masks which has been a heated topic over the past month.
Commissioner Dr. Mark Steffen who has been outspoken about the use of masks and the state's mandate on them, got into a spirited exchange with Dr. Scott Pauly about masks. Steffen also told Commissioner Ron Hirst that he shouldn’t sleep well at night thinking that wearing a mask will help save lives. Steffen continued to question the Health Department and Pauly on their handling of the pandemic and the current mask order in place.
Many people spoke both for and against the health order. Aubrey Abbott Patterson with the Hutchinson Community Foundation and Jim Remar of the Cosmosphere both spoke in support of the health order. Resident Robin Jackson was one of several residents who were against the mask order, stating that such a matter should be freely decided upon.
After several discussions on how to find some common ground, Commissioner Hirst moved to keep the current health order in place through January 18. That motion passed 2-1 with Hirst and Ron Sellers supporting it and Steffen opposed. At that time, Steffen said that the vote showed the Commissioners position for posterity. Steffen then moved that the county opt out of the state's mandated health order. That was voted down by a 2-1 margin, with the same split of Hirst and Sellers voting together opposite of Steffen.
When the current order is addressed again in four weeks, Hirst stated that he wanted everyone to be present to discuss the health order.
Four weeks would be after Steffen has moved on to the state senate, as their session begins January 11. Daniel Friesen will be seated as the third county commissioner by the time of the expiration of the health order that is now in place.