Kellogg doesn't renew mask law
KELLOGG — The biggest news coming from the city of Kellogg is what they chose not to do on Wednesday evening — by not renewing their mask mandate.
Unlike their previous meetings dating back to the initial mandate in July, renewing the 30-day mandate wasn’t even on the agenda.
Kellogg was the first city in the Idaho Panhandle to pass a mask mandate that has repercussions for not following it.
In both the resolution and the ordinance, it is explained that anyone who failed to comply with the provisions of the order would be guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine of $100.
That being said, no citations for failing to comply with the order were ever issued.
Prior to the regular council meeting, the board met with Andy Helkey, who recently worked for Panhandle Health District (PHD) before taking a new job with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality — and has been a steady and informative voice for the Kellogg City Council since the beginning of the pandemic.
Helkey ran down some of the current information and statistics concerning COVID-19 and that put the council at ease concerning allowing the mandate to expire.
Among the reasons he advised the council to allow the mandate to lapse included declining numbers of positive cases, plenty of available hospital bed capacity, sufficient supplies of PPE, rescinded mask mandates by the Panhandle Health District, and vaccine availability.
“The city felt that it was time to let theirs (mask mandate) lapse,” Helkey said.
Helkey also consulted concerning how Kellogg handled their large scale events and activities, including things like the weekly Silver Valley Community Market.
According to Helkey, those requests were approved as all of them had put into COVID-protocols into their applications.
Kellogg Mayor Mac Pooler also mentioned that following the advice from their insurance company, along with keeping an eye on Centers for Disease Control and PHD guidelines played a part in them being comfortable with their decision.
Pooler also praised Helkey for his efforts for the city during the entire ordeal.
“Andy’s been a tremendous help for us,” Pooler said. “He’s been my contact since early on when he told me that I could always call him if I had any questions. We appreciate all of his help.”
This decision will also likely have an impact on the Kellogg School District, that had a district-wide mask rule due to the district being based in the city of Kellogg.
However, at this time no changes will be made until the May KSD Board meeting.
Pooler believes that it’s still a waiting game and to make sure that people continue to practice hygienic living, including washing their hands regularly, as well as maintaining social distancing when needed.
“We’ve still got to wait and see,” Pooler said. “I don’t think this thing is over by any stretch of the imagination, but it looks like we’re doing some things right and the vaccine is looking like it’s working. But if we keep at it, we’ll get back to the green and green means go.”
Kellogg City Hall will begin allowing people back into the lobby on Monday, April 19, but for the safety of their clerks, masks will be required to enter.
