By Dewey Terrill
Little Apple Post
After a lengthy discussion Tuesday evening the Manhattan City Commission decided to approve a face mask ordinance for the city. After publication it would go into effect on Thursday and continue until Sept. 7. The commission will revisit the issue before that date to determine if it needs to be continued longer.
The ordinance includes a $5 fine for the first offense, a $10 fine for the second offense, and a $20 fine for a third or subsequent offense. The penalty provision does not include the possibility of jail time. In addition to the fine, Charter Ordinance No. 59 requires state and local court costs and fees of $98 to be assessed for this offense. The fine and $74.50 of the court costs can be worked off through community service, at the State of Kansas rate of $6/hour.
Mayor Usha Reddi called the ordinance a reasonable solution. "It's a short term solution we can come back and revisit in September, see if it's working, see if there's anything else we need to do."
The ordinance was approved as coronavirus positive cases have spiked in Manhattan, going well above 300 total cases since the pandemic began. Eight new positive cases were reported on Tuesday by the Riley County Health Department.
The Manhattan City Commission vote for the ordinance was 3-2 with Usha Reddi, Aaron Estabrook and Linda Morse voting yes, and Mark Hatesohl and Wynn Butler voting no.