Rathdrum mulls mask recommendation

In anticipation of next week's council meeting, the city of Rathdrum posted a mask recommendation online for public viewing.

Surrounded by city mask decisions, Rathdrum is the last municipality in the Coeur d'Alene area to tackle the issue. Following the Panhandle Health District board of directors' removal of its mandate, which had been in place since July, and Coeur d'Alene City Council's adoption of another, other local jurisdictions began their deliberations.

Last week, Hayden's City Council unanimously voted for a proclamation that encouraged residents to wear masks but did not mandate it. After rejecting an initial mandate Monday, the city of Post Falls will bring forth a possible mask recommendation next week.

During the last Rathdrum City Council meeting, Mayor Vic Holmes asked the board if they would be interested in discussing masks. While the majority were opposed, Council President Paula Laws said she thought it would be an essential conversation to consider. As a result, city staff put together a short resolution on the topic.

"Three of the four council members didn't even want to discuss it," city administrator Leon Duce said Wednesday. "So we made a brief little resolution to give us something to discuss. If the council feels they want to provide a recommendation, they could vote for it, and if they didn't, they could vote against it."

As published online, the recommendation states that "the Mayor and City Council highly recommends that all citizens and visitors within the City of Rathdrum should wear a cloth or surgical face covering that completely covers the nose and mouth." Options for masks include disposable, cloth, surgical, or face shields in public settings.

According to the document, the recommendation would remain in effect for 90 days unless terminated, modified, or extended.

Duce said the city has received many comments from the community about the resolution. The majority of responses are loudly against the idea of a mandate or the proposed recommendation.

"We still have people that think we should do a mandated," Duce said. "But we also have people that are saying now that we have no business in making a recommendation."

Council will take up the matter next Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Rathdrum City Hall building on Main Street. There will be no public comment taken at the meeting. Those who wish to provide opinion must submit comments to the Contact Us section on Rathdrum's website or leon@rathdrum.org.

Info: https://www.rathdrum.org