Lyon County leaders are taking some flak for exempting certain events from the county’s 45-person mass gathering limit.
The exemptions for government, education and athletic events have been part of county policy since July 9, but they came to light during Wednesday night’s meeting of the Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board. Right around 100 people did their best to socially distance inside the Bowyer Community Building, prompting several people in attendance to ask why the meeting was even scheduled.
Concerns have continued after the meeting. Olpe Chicken House owner Larry Coble did not attend Wednesday’s meeting, but he tells KVOE News the exemptions should not have been part of county policy. Coble declined a taped interview, but he says it makes no sense to allow full attendance at government meetings while attendance is limited at funerals or weddings.
County Commission Chair Rollie Martin says county leaders anticipated hefty attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, which is why they enacted the government meeting exemption when they set the policy last month.
Even though there is no attendance limit, Lyon County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern says Public Health strongly encourages people organizing or attending those activities to adhere to the mass gathering limit, wear masks and maintain at least six feet of social distancing between people. Health Officer Renee Hively also has the authority to disperse gatherings where public health is at risk, even if they are officially exempted from the mass gathering limit.
Lyon County’s current health order ends Sept. 18. Click here to view the document.
Our latest KVOE News poll asks whether you think government, education and athletic activities should be exempted from the current public health order. The poll is available on the KVOE.com news page and KVOE social media until 5 pm Monday.
