December 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
The County Commission is asking Governor Bill Lee and the Legislature to issue a statewide mask mandate
A resolution making the request was adopted by the commission Monday night.
Seventh District Commissioner Beth Pafford, member of the Health, Education & Public Welfare Committee , moved that the resolution be approved.
“This comes from everything our nation, county, and state has experienced in this pandemic. This is rooted in the desire to promote public health and now that we are blessed to have a vaccine for people to get vaccinated. Even though we as a legislative body can’t issue mandates we know that over the course of the last nine months health care professionals have been pleading with the governor to institute a mask mandate and County mayors have been asking for one. We need to let our elected representatives know how we feel about that and that is what this resolution will do. Let them know how we feel,” said Commissioner Pafford.
Although he supported the resolution, Fifth district Commissioner Jerry Adcock said a mask mandate could not be enforced.
“I am for wearing masks but there is no way we can make someone (wear a mask) There is no law. This resolution refers to supporting rewarding people who wear a mask. What do you give them an attaboy”?
Second district Commissioner Myron Rhody replied that while there are no laws to make anyone wear a mask and this is not a local mask mandate, this resolution serves as an encouragement for people to wear a mask and for the governor and legislature to have a stronger voice in that statewide.
The resolution states that “Whereas, the State of Tennessee has been identified as having the highest per capita outbreak of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States; and
Whereas, the CDC has identified mask wearing as an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and
Whereas, a majority of the members of the DeKalb County Commission support a statewide mask mandate; and
Whereas, members of the DeKalb County Commission support rewarding individuals and entities that abide by the mask mandate as an effective means of gaining compliance;
Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the DeKalb County Commission urge Governor Bill Lee, State Senator Mark Pody, State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, and State Representative Clark Boyd to support a statewide mask mandate until the CDC recommends that wearing a mask is no longer recommended.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the DeKalb County Commission and that a copy be sent to Governor Bill Lee, State Senator Mark Pody, State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, and State Representative Clark Boyd”.