Commissioners opposed to face covering mandates

Washington County commissioners said they were unified in opposition to any mandate by Southwest District Health or any other state agency that requires residents to use face coverings.
 Commissioners discussed the increasingly controversial face mask issue prior to a meeting of the Southwest District Health board last Thursday, where some thought a face mask mandate would be voted on by the board.
 The SWDH meeting was scheduled to discuss mitigation strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases in the six Idaho counties that make up the health district.
 After hearing input from the other two commissioners, Nate Marvin, who serves as the county’s representative on the SWDH board, said he would vote no on a face mask mandate if it came up.
 Marvin said he received about 30 emails from people from Grangeville, Nampa, Caldwell and elsewhere and all were opposed to any mandate to wear face masks.
 During Thursday’s meeting, the health district board  voted to recommend but did not mandate the use of face coverings.
 The health district also recommended that people follow social distancing guidelines and other measures to slow the spread of COVID-19.
 The SWDH board meeting was held at the county courthouse in Caldwell after it was rescheduled twice over what officials said were security concerns.  
 The first attempt to hold the meeting at the health district offices on July 16 was disrupted by protestors who were not allowed into the meeting.
 The SWDH board’s agenda for the July 16 meeting did have a possible vote on mandatory use of  face coverings within the health district on the agenda.
 The meeting last week only mentioned recommendations for the use of face masks and other health measures.
 Mandating the use of face masks has become a contentious issue in the Treasure Valley.
 Central Health District imposed an order in Boise and Ada County requiring the use of face masks in public places by residents.
 Although it wasn’t on the agenda, the possibility that Southwest District Health could order a mandate brought a crowd to the meeting last Thursday. Various media sources noted that nobody in the public seating wore face masks.
 Commission chairman Kirk Chandler said he’s OK if a business requires face coverings to enter because people can choose if they want to go in or not. That is different than a mandate that impacts everyone.
 During their discussion on the mandatory use of facemasks, commissioners said enforcing an order would likely be impossible and also questioned who would be responsible for enforcement.
  They also said individuals should be free to make their own decisions on health issues.
 “If you’re going to put in a mandate it has to be enforceable. How are you going to enforce it when the cities and counties say they are not enforcing it?” Chandler said.
 As elected officials, if something can be done to help slow the spread of COVID-19 they should do it, but it should stop short of mandates and taking away the constitution rights of people to run their business and have the freedom to gather, Chandler said.