WINONA, Minn. – If County Board members want to buy time and not enact a Covid mask requirement, they might resort to parliamentary rigmarol that could put off a decision until mid-November. Ken Fritz, county administrator, said he is reviewing an “enabling ordinance” process as a route that would allow the Board to create a mask mandate although only after weeks of what, in effect, would. be delaying tactics. Fritz explained the process in an interview with the Winona Daily News. This, he said, is how an enabling ordinance would work. At its October 12 or 26 meeting, the Board could adopt the enabling ordinance, which would be preliminary to a public hearing in no sooner than 10 days hence. A fast-track alternative would be for Marcia Ward, the Board chair. to order an immediate mandate. The Board then would have 72 hours to endorse and cancel the mandate. Ward, however, is a roadblock. She has spoken against a mandate. The alternative: Possibly Fritz’s enabling ordinance.
Earlier: County Board member unmoved by anti-maskers
Earlier: Anti-mask speaker makes dubious science claim
Earlier: Winona Covid cases approaching 5,000
Earlier: Ward: Let individuals make masking calls
Board breakdown
From interviews and public statements, this is how the Board feels about a mask mandate:
Leaning in favor
> Marie Kavecsi (Winona West Side, Goodview).
> Chris Meyer (Winona East End).
> Greg Olson (Central Winona).
Opposed
> Steve Jacobs (West and north rural, Altura, Elba, Minneiska, Rollingstone, St. Charles, Stockton).
> Marcia Ward (South rural, Lewiston, LaCrescent).
Meanwhile, the County attorney, Karin Sonneman, is drafting a mandate ordinance for Board consideration.
Ward. An obstacle to county mask mandate.