Hayden declines mask mandate

The Hayden City Council has decided not to implement a mask mandate, choosing instead to issue a proclamation encouraging its citizens to wear masks.

In a special meeting Wednesday evening, the council listened to both representatives from the Panhandle Health District warning of the dangers of COVID-19, and of the dissenting opinions of its residents who called masks infringements on Americans’ freedoms.

Lora Whalen, director of Panhandle Health District, and Jeff Lee, epidemiology program manager for the health district, spoke at length about both the alarming lack of available beds at Kootenai Health and the virulent nature of the virus that has killed more than 234,000 Americans since crossing the Pacific in January.

Mayor Steve Griffitts read testimonials from church leaders urging to refrain from mask mandates, as well as from Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger, who wrote in a letter his department and four dedicated personnel assigned to patrol Hayden would not be able to enforce a citywide mandate. Griffitts then gave the floor to Hayden resident Sandy White, who questioned the effectiveness of the masks before calling on the council to leave freedom in the hands of Hayden’s citizens.

“I believe you need to maintain liberty,” Hayden resident Sandy White told the council, “and trust in our citizens to make our own informed decisions.”

Since announcing the special meeting last week, the city received a flood of emails, some of which drew the ire of council. Council president Roger Saterfiel expressed disappointment in the inelegant messages, some of which equated the virus’s morbidity rate and danger to at-risk populations as the cost of doing business in a pandemic.

“One of the things that disturbs me, though,” Saterfiel said, “… some of the emails we received were so inappropriate. They were threatening. And some of the emails (suggested) some of our citizens are expendable.”

Councilman Matthew Roetter acknowledged the wash of emails, as well, adding that the themes of those emails resonated with him.

“There are rights involved here,” Roetter said. “Ninety-some percent of the emails I received had to do with liberty and choices and personal freedoms.”

Councilwoman Jeri DeLange stood up for those wearing masks, saying those wearing masks in the community are looking out for their neighbors.

“A lot of people want to do the right thing,” she said. “They want to protect other people, and those people are wearing masks. I want to say: I applaud you. I do believe masks protect the public.”

But ultimately, the council erred on the side of personal liberty, voting unanimously to approve the proclamation.