Johnson County commissioners adopt state mask mandate

A contentious hearing Thursday morning in Olathe ended with the Johnson County Board of Commissioners adopting Kansas Gov.

Laura Kelly’s order mandating masks be worn in public places.

A HEATED DEBATE ENDS INA VOTE TO REQUIRE FACEMASKS IN JOHNSONCOUNTY.TODAY THE BOARD OFCOUNTY COMMISSIONERSDISCUSSED GOVERNORKELLY'S MASK MANDATEAND VOTED TO ADOPT IT.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESTELLS US HOW RESIDENTSFEEL ABOUT THEDECISION.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Chairman of the Board EdEilert says he would haveliked to have more time to lookover the Governor's order, butafter hearing from publichealth experts he ultimatelyagreed with it.

That wasn't thecase for everyone on theboard.""Commissioner Fast?

Aye,Commissioner Allen?

Aye,Commissioner Klika?

No."TWO MORE YES VOTESLATER - AND EVERYONE INPUBLIC SPACES INJOHNSON COUNTY ISREQUIRED TO WEAR AFACE MASK.THE BOARD HEARDTESTIMONY FROMDIRECTOR OF HEALTH ANDENVIRONMENT SANMIAREOLA ABOUT THEEFFECTIVENESS OF MASKS-DR. SANMI AREOLA, JOCODIRECTOR OF HEALTH ANDENVIRONMENT"We now have robust studiesthat support this.

It is one ofthe few efficient tools nowavailable to us to contain thespread of this virus and toprotect our citizens."AND PUBLIC HEALTHOFFICER DR. JOSEPHLEMASTER ABOUT THESIGNIFICANT RISE INCASES IN THE COUNTY.DR. JOSEPH LEMASTER, PUBLICHEALTH OFFICER"We're now seeing recordnumbers of cases, mostlyeven more in the last tendays, the highest yet in thepandemic and an increasingtrend in the wrong direction."DR. AREOLA ALSO said THERISE IN CASES is NOTBECAUSE OF AN INCREASEIN TESTING.DR. SANMI AREOLA, JOCODIRECTOR OF HEALTH ANDENVIRONMENT"Right now while you can seethe increase in testing isprettysteady - you can see thedramatic rise in percentage ofcases testing positive,it's pretty obvious that theincrease we're having here isnot from the increase intesting."THE BOARD HEARD FROMTHE PUBLIC BEFOREVOTING.OVERLAND PARKRESIDENT DAVEREHNBLOM SPOKE OF HISSUPPORT FOR THE ORDER.DAVE REHNBLOM, SUPPORTSFACE MASK REQUIREMENT"It's really about the leastintrusive and easiest thing thatyou can do to show that you'rebasically a decent humanbeing."TERI CARMODY TELLS MESHE WON'T WEAR A FACEMASK IN A PUBLIC PLACE.TERI CARMODY, AGAINST FACEMASK REQUIREMENT"It's just another example ofpeople giving up their freedomfor fear and I prefer freedomto fear."EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Chairman Eilert says theDistrict Attorney will take thelead on enforcement by usingeducation and information.The County is creating ahotline for public enforcement,which should be live Monday.He asks people do not call9-1-1, which has already beean issue.

In Olathe, EmmaJames, 41 Action News."