Newly sworn-in Branson Mayor Larry Milton started his two-year term by fulfilling a key campaign promise: the repeal of Branson's public health masking order, first enacted July 31 after extensive discussion amid rising COVID-19 case counts.
On Tuesday night, the Branson Board of Aldermen voted 6-0 in favor of a public masking repeal to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, modifying a bill Milton introduced earlier that called for immediate repeal.
Aldermen also considered a possible repeal in 7 to 10 days, in a bid to give businesses time to prepare for changes, but settled on a timeframe of roughly 48 hours.
The end of mandated masking in Branson was already on the books before Tuesday night's vote.