Ordinances requiring face masks and 50 percent occupancy restrictions will be on the agenda for the Neosho City Council when it meets 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Civic Center and city officials will likely be faced with strong opposition from unmasked, non-socially distanced opponents of the measures.
Among those urging strong opposition to the ordinances is the city's former mayor, State Representative Ben Baker.
On his Facebook page today, Baker made sure his followers were aware of the meeting:
There will be a mask mandate and a 50% occupancy restriction on businesses on the agenda at Tuesdays Neosho City Council meeting. You have until 5:00 today to sign up to speak at the meeting. The ordinance would not expire until Feb 12th.
The text of the mask ordinance is printed below. The occupancy ordinance can be found at this link.
AN ORDINANCE requiring persons to wear a face covering that covers the nostrils and mouth to help restrict the spread of the COVID-19 virus; creating exemptions; establishing enforcement; and containing an emergency clause.
WHEREAS, the spread of the COVID-19 virus has been accelerating in the City of Neosho and in
Newton County; and
WHEREAS, as of December 6, 2020, the Newton County Health Department confirmed 3,344
total cases, 464 active cases, 25 hospitalizations, and 52 deaths, including community spread, of
the COVID-19 virus in Newton County, Missouri, with the majority of cases being located within
Neosho, Missouri; and
WHEREAS, one key transmission method for the COVID-19 virus is through respiratory droplets
that people expel when they breathe, speak, cough, or sneeze. Moreover, people can be infected
with the COVID-19 virus and be asymptomatic but still be contagious. People can also be infected
and contagious 48 hours before developing symptoms when they are pre-symptomatic. Many
people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms and do not recognize they are infected and
contagious, and they can unintentionally infect others; and
WHEREAS, numerous epidemiologists have insisted that widespread use of a face mask is
necessary to prevent the more rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, especially when humans gather
in groups, and thereby necessary for the safety and health of Neosho citizens, residents, and
visitors; and
WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control has recommended that members of the
public, when they need to interact with others outside the home, and especially in settings where
many people are present, should cover the mouth and nose to prevent inadvertently spreading
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on November 16, 2020, the health care community in Southwest Missouri, including
Mercy Hospital Joplin, Mercy Clinic Joplin, Freeman Health System, Kansas City University,
Community Clinic, Access Family Care, and Jasper County Health Department, issued a letter
urging all elected government and municipal officials in Joplin, Webb City, Carl Junction,
Carthage, Neosho, and the County Commissions of Newton and Jasper Counties to enact a mask
mandate for the explicit purpose of reducing the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the City of Neosho finds that wearing a face covering, in combination with physical
distancing of at least 6 feet and frequent hand-washing, may reduce the risk of transmitting the
COVID-19 virus when in public and engaged in necessary activities by reducing the spread of
respiratory droplets. Therefore, this Ordinance requires that people wear face coverings in certain
public settings as further described below.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEOSHO,
MISSOURI, as follows:
Section 1. That all persons who are present in the City of Neosho shall wear a face covering
when inside public facilities or businesses that are open to the public in areas of the business that
are open to the public or where the public is present; inside public transportation vehicles; and
outside when social distancing is not possible between people who are not members of the same
family or household.
“Face covering” is defined as a cloth face covering that covers the nose and
mouth. It can be a surgical mask or cloth mask secured with ties or straps around the head or behind
the ears; multiple layers of fabric tied around the head; made from a variety of materials, such as
fleece, cotton, or linen; or factory-made or made from household items. It cannot be a face shield
or mask with exhalation valves or vents.
Section 2. Exceptions for face coverings will be made under the following circumstances:
a. For those who fall into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
guidance for those who should not wear face coverings due to a medical
condition, mental health condition, developmental disability, or are
otherwise covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act; or
b. For children under 6 years old; or
c. For people whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face
covering; or
d. For bar or restaurant patrons while they are dining or consuming drink; or
e. For engaging in organized group or team sports, exercise, or other physical
activities where it is not practicable or feasible to wear a mask or socially
distance; or
f. In settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear a face covering,
including when obtaining or rendering goods or services, such as the receipt
of dental services or medical treatments.
Section 3. All public facilities and businesses that are open to the public are required to post a
sign at all entrances that masks are required to be worn inside the business. The City of Neosho
has hereby determined that local law enforcement and other city officials will act in a support
capacity to businesses that need to enforce the use of masks upon their premises.
Section 4. Schools within the City of Neosho shall work with the Newton County Health
Department to implement safety protocols, including the use of face coverings, that can be
implemented in a safe and feasible manner at each grade level to mitigate the spread of COVID19.
Section 5. That the Neosho City Council has determined that the orders and advisories
included in this ordinance are necessary to preserve the peace and order of the City of Neosho, and
to protect life and to promote and preserve public safety and welfare, in particular to mitigate the
spread of COVID-19, and provide essential protections to Neosho residents, including but not limited to those who are most vulnerable to infection, while still preserving the availability of
essential services.
Section 6. Enforcement of this ordinance shall focus first on educating and working to
promote the mitigation of the spread of COVID-19. A person or business shall be notified of the
provisions of this ordinance and will be provided an opportunity to explain an exception or follow
the guidelines prior to issuance of any citation or other enforcement action.
Section 7. The Neosho City Council specifically orders that enforcement of this ordinance
shall therefore be administered by first education and an opportunity for compliance, followed by
a warning, and a civil citation, only if necessary.
Section 8. Under the Neosho City Council’s authority for enforcement of a violation of face
coverings, the City Council specifically orders that a violation of this ordinance under Neosho’s
City Code, Section 100.130, is punishable by a fine of $0 to $50 dollars, at the court’s discretion.
Section 9. Businesses have the right to refuse service for failure to comply, if there are no
exceptions under this ordinance.
Section 10. This Ordinance is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until Friday
February 12, 2021 at 11:59 p.m., unless extended or terminated prior to that date by the City
Council.
Section 11. That the City Council of the City of Neosho, Missouri, hereby declares that this
Ordinance, being an Ordinance relating to the immediate preservation of the public peace,
property, health, safety, or morals, is considered an emergency within the meaning of Section
2.18(1) of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Neosho, Missouri, and, as such, this Ordinance
shall become effective immediately upon its passage. Specifically, that this Ordinance should
become effective without delay because widespread use of a face mask is necessary to prevent the
more rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.
2 comments:
It's about time
Unfortunately our city leaders are in a situation they don't want to be in. Its been proven that masks are our only way to lower infection rates. I don't think that anyone wants to wear one, but we know its the best way to protect our friends, family, and neighbors. We should come together as a community for the next couple of months and get through this pandemic. Mr. Baker should find a better use of his time and support the council. It seems to me that he is more interested in furthering his political career than actually doing the right thing by his constituents. Masking and social distancing is not a political issue. The most Christian thing we can do is to protect others.
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