City of Port has mask resolution ready to go

The Port Washington Common Council was expected to vote Wednesday, April 7, on a resolution requiring people to wear masks in city buildings and urging businesses in the community to require face coverings in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The measure, which applies to people ages 4 and older, was prompted by the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate, City Administrator Tony Brown said Tuesday.

“In my mind, it’s our responsibility to provide a safe work environment,” Brown said, and this measure is one way to do so.

That’s especially true as health officials warn of the risk of variants of Covid-19 and predict a fourth wave of the disease could hit the country as people let their guard down after a year of being cautious.

“I don’t know where this is headed,” Brown said, “but I’d rather fall on the side of being cautious. We’re advising people to do this based on public health recommendations to prevent the spread.”

The resolution, patterned after those in the cities of Ashland and Beloit, stops short of requiring businesses to impose mask mandates, but it “strongly advises” people to implement safety measures, including the wearing of masks and social distancing.
“The reality is, even if we put in place a mask mandate for the entire community, I don’t know how you enforce that,” Brown said. “There’s a practical side to it.”

The measure allows people who are giving an artistic, cultural, educational, political, musical or theatrical performance to remove their mask, but they must be at least six feet away from others.

The resolution also discourages mass gatherings to limit the spread of Covid-19. Aldermen were expected Wednesday to define the number of people at an event in order for it to qualify as a mass gathering.

The resolution, which would take effect immediately, may be enforced by any law enforcement officer and does not preclude county or municipal health officers from addressing a localized Covid-19 outbreak with an order of their own.

If there are conflicting requirements, the more restrictive measure will apply, the resolution states.

The resolution calls for the mask mandate to remain in effect until the Common Council decides to terminate it, something it says will be done based on data from the Washington Ozaukee Health Department confirming a set percentage of county residents have received a full course of  Covid-19 vaccinations.

The exact percentage isn’t in the resolution, but was to be determined by the Common Council Wednesday.

“For herd immunity, from everything I’ve seen, it’s 70% to 90%,” Brown said. “It’s a conversation for the council to have as to where in that range they want to be.”

According to the resolution, as of March 31, 37.3% of the county’s population had received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 20.7% had received both doses. 

Brown said the measure is a common sense approach to the pandemic.

“If you’re working in the public works department and you’re cutting down a tree, I don’t think you’re going to say do it without safety goggles and a helmet,” he said.