By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
In a three to two vote, Saline County Commissioners this morning approved an amendment that would end the county's mask mandate in a week.
The amendment was a variant of one of three options presented to commissioners by Jason Tiller, county health department director. Those options were:
- Continue the mandate
- Continue the mandate, but set an expiration date of one to two weeks, thus allowing organizations and businesses time to develop and adopt masking policies prior to the mandate expiring, should they choose to do so.
- End the mask mandate immediately
Tiller told commissioners that since last week's report, the county has recorded 24 new cases of COVID-19 and no deaths related to the virus. As of Monday, the health department was monitoring 37 active cases, Tiller said.
Additionally, Salina Regional Health Center reported only two hospitalized COVID-19 cases.
After commissioners heard from Tiller and members of the public, Commissioner Mike White moved to adopt option No. 3 and end the mask mandate immediately. That motion died for a lack of a second.
Commissioner Monte Shadwick then followed up with a motion to adopt option No. 2 with a one-week end date for the mask mandate. White seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, Shadwick, White, and Commission Chair Rodger Sparks voted in favor of the motion, with Commissioner James Weese and Commissioner Robert Vidricksen voting against the motion.