The Whitehall School District is threatening the Jefferson County Health Board with legal action if it does not allow for a hearing and public comment on the recently enacted county-wide mask requirement.Â
The letter, dated March 2 and from the districtâs attorney, accuses the Health Board of violating Montanaâs open meeting laws and the statute that requires a public notice and hearing before taking action on a health directive issued by a health board.Â
Jefferson Countyâs mask requirement was issued Friday, Feb. 19 and was effective the same day. The details are similar to the state-wide mask mandate issued by former Gov. Steve Bullock, but that was rescinded in February by Gov. Greg Gianforte after he took office.Â
The Jefferson County Health Board has upped the cap on the number of people who can attend events at one time in the county, with a target of 150 by May.
The Board voted March 2 to increase the cap to 50 in March, effective March 5, and then to 100 in April. In May, the Board is shooting for a cap of 150, contingent on the COVID-19 case numbers.Â
Beginning March 5, events with 50 or more people will still need to submit a health plan through the Public Health Department, according to Health Officer Sandy Sacry.Â
The Board had previously been following the state mandate, which capped events at 25, and was enacted by former Gov. Steve Bullock.Â
A group of residents asked the Jefferson County Commission Feb. 24 for several concessions with regards to the March 2 Health Board meeting.
They were at the meeting to express displeasure, and support, over the recently enacted county-wide mask requirement issued by the health officer and in collaboration with the Health Board.Â
The residents asked that the meeting be held in a location where individuals could attend in-person â recently the meetings have been held exclusively online. They also asked that the Health Board agenda be posted on the countyâs Public Health website and a mediator be present.
A copy of the agenda was published in the Feb. 24, page 7, of The Boulder Monitor. The agenda has since been updated to include a special management area and review directive for face coverings under new business.
Jefferson County implements local mask mandate
Jonathon Ambarian
and last updated 2021-02-22 17:13:34-05
HELENA â Leaders in Jefferson County have implemented their own local mask mandate.
County health officer Sandy Sacry and health board chair Christina Binkowski signed off on the new directive on Friday. It says businesses, schools, government offices and other indoor spaces must continue to require masks for those age 5 and older, except when they are eating, exercising or doing other allowed activities.
In the directive, leaders said they still believe protective measures like masking are needed in the county â particularly until more vulnerable people have the chance to get vaccinated against COVID-19. They said they will keep reviewing the number of new COVID cases and vaccination data as they decide whether to continue these measures.
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