WINONA, Minn. –A majority if the City Council, led by at-large member Michelle Alexander, rejected the advice of the city’s leading health authorities in voting down a Covid asking requirement. Testifying in favor of required masking before the Council vited were:
> Rachelle Schultz, chief executive at Winona Health: “We are not out of the pandemic yet and our respective actions matter. As we each make personal decisions, it’s important to reflect on the impact that these have on those that we love, that we live with, work with, care about and come into contact with in our community.”
> Karen Sannes, county Health and Human Services director: “We are in a surge right now. We are trending higher with our case rates right now than we were last year at this time, which is concerning considering the number of vaccinations that we do have.”
> Melanie Tatge, county Public Health supervisor. Her PowerPoint showed Winona County’s case growth over the past month. Also, she said, masks are effective at slowing the spread of Covid.
Alexander made the parliamentary motion to rescind Mayor Scott Sherman’s executive order to require masking. The Council voted 4-3 for Alexander’s motion. The majority all have roots in the mercantile community, which, according to the Chamber of Commerce, was opposed to the mask requirement.
> Michelle Alexander, a rental property manager.
> George Borzyskowski. a Peerless Chain retiree who grew up the family plumbing business.
> Aaron Repinski, an entrepreneur whose interests include river boat tours.
> Steve Young, an insurance agent.
Their rationales gave priority to individual choice over the commonweal and social responsibility. Young expicity dismissed health experts. “I just don’t see requiring masks just in the city limits of Winona is going to change anything,” Young said in a KWNO radio interview. Borzyskowski said common sense trumps the experts: “The people of Winona are very smart people. They know when and where to wear a facemask,”
Alexander. Led 4-3 vote to kill required masking.
Borzyskowski. Let people decide on their own.
Repinski. Majority should reign.
Young. Local masking pointless.