People who are out in Basalt will be required to wear a face covering at all times when in public, according to an emergency ordinance passed Friday by the Basalt Town Council.<\/p>\n
Basalt joins Aspen and Glenwood Springs as Roaring Fork Valley towns that require masks outside of the home for most of the month of May or longer. The Pitkin County Board of Health voted Thursday to approve mandatory masks in public places starting May 9.<\/p>\n
The Basalt ordinance, which passed unanimously, starts immediately, and states people have to wear a mask \u201cwhen entering and while inside of a place of business open to the public, and in such other public indoor or outdoor places where persons are unable to maintain safe social distancing (e.g. six or more feet separation) from others not of their own household, except for momentary circumstances to accept payment, deliver goods, walk or ride past, or perform otherwise necessary tasks.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was discussion about changing the fines, and council agreed to follow the structure set for in Aspen: up to $50 for the first offense; $250 for a second offense; and the court’s discretion on a third offense.<\/p>\n
New Mayor Bill Kane, who was sworn in on Tuesday evening, said: “This is about deterrence. Not about fining people.”<\/p>\n
Town manager Ryan Mahoney
\nsaid while the police are out educating people, residents need to take a personal
\nrole in wearing a mask. He said officials know that some people won\u2019t abide by
\nthe order. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs with all of these health orders, PD has been enforcing and out and about educating folks. Enforcement on this, similar to what we\u2019ve heard in Aspen and Glenwood, is not something we can do fully,\u201d Mahoney said. \u201cWe can\u2019t chase down every single person, we know that. Usually we have two officers on and covering the whole town. \u2026 We think this will help and increase use of masks overall. \u2026 We all have to take a personal responsibility in this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahoney clarified that masks are not required in situations where people would just be passing by each other, as in on the Rio Grande Trail or hiking or biking.<\/p>\n
During public comment, some said they feel the resolution was a \u201cknee-jerk reaction\u201d and an infringement on their civil rights. Others brought up concerns regarding mental health with people walking around wearing masks.<\/p>\n
Two commenters said they have
\nbeen yelled at in public for not wearing a mask, and it is raising issues of residents
\nself-policing other residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking for people to
\nbe kind to each other,\u201d Mahoney said. \u201cWe don\u2019t need people to self-appoint as
\nthe mask police.\u201d <\/p>\n
Children 2 and younger, those who work in an office but do not have face-to-face contact with the public and those who have a health condition that a mask would impair them are exempt from the order.<\/p>\n
The Basalt order would sunset on May 26, but the council, which has a meeting scheduled for that day, could extend it, Mahoney said Friday.<\/p>\n
Glenwood Springs City Council passed an ordinance in early April<\/a> requiring face masks in public. That order was set to expire Friday, but the council voted Thursday night to extend the order<\/a> until at least June 4. <\/p>\n On Monday, the Aspen City Council pass a resolution<\/a> making masks required in public until at least May 27.<\/p>\n