Emporia’s ordinance mandating facial coverings or masks will go into effect Tuesday.
The ordinance will be officially published then. It lasts until Sept. 16, at which time Emporia city commissioners will have a review to determine whether to continue it, alter it or end it.
The ordinance requires people to wear face masks or face coverings in certain circumstances, including indoor and outdoor public places where social distancing can’t be maintained and any time residents are receiving healthcare services. This also requires businesses, organizations and non-profit agencies to require employees to wear face coverings in any spaces visited by the public, any space where food is prepared or packaged and any business space where social distancing can’t be maintained.
Customers, visitors and community members also need to wear face coverings inside facilities operated by businesses or organizations.
Fines are $25, $50 or $100 based on the number of convictions, although, during Thursday’s Lyon County Commission meeting, County Attorney Marc Goodman said the ordinance was “unenforceable.”
