The Riley County Commission will discuss the county’s face-mask ordinance during its meeting this Thursday.
The topic came up during Monday’s intergovernmental luncheon, which included members of multiple local government entities.
Riley County commissioner John Ford says because of the ordinance, the commission has experienced push back from citizens who live in rural areas.
“That’s a dynamic for use that, really, no one else has at this point in time,” Ford said. “It’s been kind of strenuous over the last couple of weeks.”
Ford says he is seeing fewer and fewer people wearing masks.
Manhattan city commissioner Linda Morse was displeased with the county’s decision to reapproach the subject at this time.
Screen capture from Manhattan City Commission meeting agenda.
The City of Manhattan plans to install several “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” signs in flood-prone areas throughout the Wildcat Creek watershed.
The venture is part of the Resilient Wildcat Creek Floodplain Management plan.
Commissioner Linda Morse explained during the Manhattan City Commission meeting Tuesday why this project was prioritized.
“It’s something we could accomplish easily just by making some signs and it would be potentially life saving,” Morse said. “That’s why it rose to the top of the list.”
Assistant director of community development Chad Bunger says the signs will serve as a reminder even on dry-weather days.
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Manhattan extends face mask ordinance through May 16, aligns with RCHD
The Manhattan City Commission voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to extend the face-mask ordinance to May 16th, the end of the academic calendar at Kansas State University and USD 383.
The decision aligns the city with the Riley County Commission, who plan to include an extension of a county mask ordinance through May 16, as part of its next health order due out Thursday. Commissioner Aaron Estabrook says going forward, he’ll continue to look to county health officials for guidance on certain policies.
“Hopefully the people in Riley County, including Pottawatomie County and the City of Manhattan will also look to the health department for their health advice as those things happen between now and the summer,” he said.
The Manhattan City Commission approved in a four to one vote Tuesday the first reading of an ordinance meant to extend the face mask mandate to May 16. Commissioner Mark Hatesohl was the lone commissioner to oppose.
The passage of the first reading of the ordinance does not mean the mask mandate has been extended. It means that the commission is able to move forward with holding a final vote at its meeting on March 16.
Despite the passage on first reading, the commission is still split on whether to allow the city’s mask mandate to expire.
Mayor Wynn Butler says he would like to let the city’s policy expire and give authority over face masks to the Riley County Health Department.