Wausau City Hall. MWC file photo
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau’s Public Health and Safety Committee has narrowly approved an extension of the city’s masking resolution through May 31st.
The local order, which comes with no enforceable action, calls for all residents to wear face coverings when in a publicly accessible building with some exceptions such as those with respiratory issues or religious reasons.
The lack of consequences in the resolution was a point of discussion during Monday’s meeting, with representatives from the city saying it’s more like a request or an endorsement from the city. Mayor Katie Rosenberg said she sees it as a mandate, even without enforceable action.
“We’re getting trapped in a semantic discussion,” she said. “To me, it is a mask mandate. We are saying ‘you should wear a mask.'”
Alder Lisa Rasmussen, who chairs the committee, said all along the goal of the resolution was to keep law enforcement out of the issue while still stressing the importance of face coverings in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
The order has always been designed as a safety net for the city if a state or federal mandate has not been in effect while COVID-19 is still circulating in the area. Rasmussen said it also keeps local business owners and their employees from getting into heated discussions about the matter with customers.
“In some of the states that have lifted their requirements early [there have] been some complaints, I think, from business owners who believe that lifting puts them in a fight with their clients,” said Rasmussen. “Obviously a city-wide order or a state order gives them a little bit of political cover with their customers.
“In a couple of other states, there have been some business leaders who have said ‘Oh, please don’t put this on us,'” she added.
The final vote was 3-2 with Alders Becky McElhaney and Jim Wadinski voting no.
Alder Pat Peckham and Mayor Rosenberg both added that the resolution is by no means permanent. “One of the things [we need] to keep in mind is we are not locked in until December 31st with this, or whenever the expiration date is. If it’s prudent to back off [such as if] CDC guidelines change or Marathon County Health Department guidelines change we can back off very quickly,” said Peckham.
“Right, we’re pretty nimble with our local policies,” added Rosenberg.
“I don’t see this harming anything, and it could help,” Peckham concluded.
OUTDOOR, ON-STREET DINING TO RETURN
The Committee also voted to bring back a popular outdoor event that was born out of COVID-19 gathering restrictions for another summer.
Local restaurants and taverns will once again be allowed to utilize their outdoor spaces to allow for extra dining or drinking space for patrons, as long as certain criteria are met.
Last year the relaxed ordinance led to some outdoor events including live music with outdoor dining in the 400 block on some Wednesday nights in place of concerts on the square. The ordinance was then extended into the fall, with some establishments investing in outdoor heaters to allow customers to dine outdoors later in the season.
“We’ve put an end date on it of 12/31 [in case] the pandemic hangs around a little bit. [Also] if we have a warm fall they’ll still want to be using those outside areas. Last summer we ended up extending those a couple of times,” said Rasmussen.
RELATED: Outdoor dining on the 400 block will continue through September
Restaurants and taverns will be allowed to utilize their outdoor space provided there is enough setback from residential areas, they have enough staff, and space is no bigger than a set percentage of their indoor area.
Establishments with a certain number of demerit points with the city are also excluded from utilizing the outdoor space.
RELATED: Public Health and Safety Committee Approves Outdoor Bar and Tavern Plan
Both measures will now go to the full city council for approval or denial during their March 23rd meeting.
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