KXLY
January 28, 2021 2:38 PM Connor Sarles
HAYDEN, Idaho The Panhandle Health Board voted 4-3 to maintain the region’s mask mandate.
The board initially passed the mandate on November 19, which requires people in all five North Idaho counties – Bonner, Boundary, Benewah, Kootenai and Shoshone – to wear a mask when in public.
That decision led to backlash, including the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office announcing they would not enforce the mandate and Conner County commissioner Steve Bradshaw proposing to pull funding for the Panhandle Health District.
Thursday’s vote was tied 3-3, requiring a tiebreaker vote from chairman Marlow Thompson, who voted to keep the mask mandate.