Port mandates masks for everyone at events

Decision by increasingly concerned council means face coverings are required at farmers market, beer garden
By 
KRISTYN HALBIG ZIEHM
Ozaukee Press staff

People attending the Port Washington beer gardens, farmers market and other public events on city property will be required to wear face coverings, aldermen agreed Tuesday.

Mayor Marty Becker, who asked the Common Council for action on the matter, said it’s important for the city to set the requirement in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19.

“Let’s be realistic — it’s probably not enforceable,” Becker told aldermen, adding he doesn’t expect city police officers to hunt down and ticket people who aren’t wearing face coverings.

“But it shows a commitment we have to slow down the coronavirus. I just get the feeling you have to have some sort of mandate.”

The coronavirus is continuing to take a toll in the county. The number of positive test results in the county has increased by 90 in the last week, from 737 on Aug. 11 to 827 on Aug. 18, according to the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department.

The action came two weeks after Becker told Port Main Street Inc. Executive Director Melissa Alexander to tell vendors at the farmers market to wear a mask or risk losing their place at the market.

Alexander, he said, has done a good job of persuading vendors to wear face coverings. He was told only one vendor didn’t wear a mask at the last market, Becker said.

“It would be really nice if customers would wear masks,” Becker added.

And Alexander plans to reorganize the layout of the market, he said, with vendors lined up in the middle of Main Street and customers walking on either side of the street.

“That will let them do a better job of spacing,” Becker said.

Ald. Jonathan Pleitner suggested that Port Main Street Inc., which organizes the market, provide free masks for people attending the Saturday events.

“Perhaps we can drive better engagement then,” he said.

Ald. Deb Postl also suggested that more trash barrels be placed at the site, noting that people are throwing their used masks on streets and sidewalks.

“There needs to be a sufficient number of trash cans,” she said. 

Becker noted that at the city’s beer gardens, people generally wear masks, particularly those staffing the booth.

Many of the beer gardens have been canceled for a number of reasons, Ald. Dan Benning said, noting that after this Saturday’s beer garden hosted by the Lions Club, there will only be one or two others.

“We’ll keep an eye on how that goes,” he said.

He suggested the council look at other upcoming events, such as trick or treat at Halloween.

“It doesn’t make sense to me to take the risk of having trick or treat,” Benning said.

But Pleitner said that’s too far away to make a decision now.

“I think it’s premature to decide that,” he said.

Becker said he wanted aldermen to take a stand on the mask issue, noting that at the last meeting he took action but there was no vote by the council.

“I really want to reiterate this,” he said. “I just want to keep pushing this.

“This is for the public good. It’s like seat belts and bike helmets. It doesn’t hurt anybody to have a mask on.”

City Administrator Tony Brown asked whether aldermen were requiring masks at all events on city property or only those open to the public, noting that private groups rent space in the parks for various events.

“You’re going to have public events and private events right next to each other,” Police Captain Mike Davel said.

Aldermen agreed to require masks be worn at all public events on city property or in city facilities.

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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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