Kellogg renews mask law for second time

KELLOGG — The city of Kellogg has once again extended its resolution for its mask ordinance inside the city’s limits.

Following a meeting on Oct. 14, the legislation is an exact replica of the original ordinance that was passed in late July and will run until Nov. 15 (unless extended again by the city council).

The passage of the original ordinance was followed by the passage of a resolution that defines what the rules are. Essentially, the resolution explains what the rules are and the ordinance gives the city and law enforcement the power to enforce those rules.

Kellogg was the first city in the Idaho Panhandle to pass a mask mandate that has repercussions for not following it.

According to Section 1 in the resolution, “every person, shall, when in any indoor or outdoor public place, completely cover their nose and mouth, when members of the public are physically present for otherwise unprotected social interaction.”

In both the resolution and the ordinance, it is explained that anyone who fails to comply with the provisions of the order would be guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine of $100.

Kellogg Mayor Mac Pooler told the News-Press that since the initial implementation, the Kellogg Police Department has not written any mask-related citations.

The document also includes several exemptions to the rule which include:

• Children under the age of 5.

• Persons who cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering. A person is not required to provide documentation demonstrating that the person cannot medically tolerate wearing a face covering.

• Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.

• Persons, including on-duty law-enforcement officers, for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state or federal regulators, or workplace safety guidelines.

• Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose, face or head for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.

• Persons who are eating or drinking at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, so long as the person is able to maintain a distance of 6 feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or party as the person.

• Outdoor public places where a person can employ social distancing as recommended by CDC where the person is able to maintain a distance of 6 feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or party as the person.

When the resolution and ordinance were passed in July, city councilors Anna Moody, Terry Douglas and Dennis Norris voted in favor of the ordinance; while Ron Delcamp, Ron Mercado and Sid Armstrong voted against it, forcing Mayor Mac Pooler to have to break a tie for only the second time in his near 30-year tenure as mayor.

The extension will run for another 30 days from the date it was signed, after which the council will need to meet and discuss it once again.