FREMONT – The Fremont Board of Health met Friday morning to review the current mask directive for the City of Fremont.
All members were present for the meeting. The Board of Health consists of Mayor Scott Getzschman, City Council President Susan Jacobus, Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott, and Methodist Fremont Health Dr. Richard Seitz. Also present at the meeting was City Attorney Travis Jacott and City Administrator Brian Newton.
Earlier this week, area school personnel, city officials, business partners, the local health department, and other city leaders met to discuss ongoing COVID-19 efforts. The consensus of the group was that the current mask directive was helping to slow the spread of the virus.
Mayor Getzschman made these comments during the meeting.
Getzschman also stated that local hospital employees have been very supportive of the mask directive.
One of the main topics up for discussion during the Board of Health meeting today was whether or not the directive should be changed to a mandate. If the board voted to push for a mandate, the board would have to make a recommendation that would have to be placed in front of the Fremont City Council for final approval.
Keeping the mask requirement as a directive does not require the approval of council. Some community leaders thought a mask mandate would be a better option as they could change the penalty of not wearing a mask to a fine, rather than a misdemeanor.
Getzschman voiced his concerns with making the directive a mandate.
Currently, the mask directive requires people age 5 or older to wear a face-covering over the mouth and nose. The directive applies to indoor premises that are open to the general public.
By City Code, those found in violation of the directive could be arrested under the health and sanitation ordinance, but it would be up to the County Prosecutor to charge and to prosecute them in a Dodge County court.
The penalty for violating the directive is the same penalty for offenses like moving a barricade, failure to remove a diseased tree, raising bees within 200-feet of a residence, driving over a fire hose, discharging a firearm in the City, as well as many, many other misdemeanors listed in other City ordinances.
Overall, the board agreed that the current directive was working and they did not want to push for a mandate that would have to go before the Fremont City Council.
A motion was made by member Susan Jacobus and seconded by Dr. Richard Seitz to keep the current directive in place and make it possible to review and make changes if COVID-19 cases continue to escalate in the area.
The motion carried 3-1 with Fremont Police Chief Jeff Elliott voting no.
The current mask directive will be in place until January 31, 2021. The board will meet again as that deadline approaches to discuss if the directive needs to be extended or what other action may need to be taken.
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