By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council voted Monday evening to extend the city’s mask mandate until June. 30.
Casting the only “no” vote was council member Greg Robinette, who said he had been contacted by multiple people asking, “When will this end?”
Robinette said council should identify the criteria needing to be met to end the mask mandate, rather than setting another three month extension.
“We’ve only kicked the can down the road based on the calendar,” he said.
“We owe it to our fellow citizens,” he said, to establish the criteria for when the ordinance can be lifted.
“I think we can as a community get by without a mandate,” Robinette said.
Council member Sandy Rowland said Gov. Mike DeWine has already set statewide criteria of no more than 50 people per 100,000 testing positive for COVID, in order for areas to move from Level Red to Level Orange.
Across the nation, some states are lifting mask mandates – often over the objections of public health officials.
Council President Mark Hollenbaugh said that the vaccinations will mean a lifting of restrictions – but not yet.
“I’m inclined to believe that we would extend the ordinance,” he said.
Council member Bill Herald said a three-month extension seemed reasonable.
“I would hope this would be the last time we have to do it,” he said, adding that the mandate can always be lifted earlier if it becomes possible.
Hollenbaugh agreed that council may want to consider when the mask ordinance could come to an end.
“Council needs to think about what the end looks like,” he said. “It’s entirely possible we may reach that before June. 30.”
