By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to reinstate a mask mandate for indoor city facilities.
The vote on the mask mandate came after the council met in a closed-door session with its attorney, during which the council also discussed an evaluation of the city’s municipal judge and the Palomino Park Mobile Home Community.
Following the executive session, the council returned to open session, and Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano announced no action had been taken while the council was out of public view.
After the council meeting resumed, Lozano made a motion to give Municipal Judge Eric Bayne a raise, which was unanimously supported by the rest of the council.
The council took no action on the Palomino Park situation, then the mayor made the following motion: “I move to provide for a resolution, that is not yet numbered, for the city of Del Rio to require the wearing of masks in city facilities, providing a severability clause and providing for an effective date, and the date would be tomorrow at noon.”
Councilman Steven Webb gave the second, and the motion passed unanimously without comment.
After the meeting, Lozano was asked to comment about the mask mandate and told the 830 Times, “It is important the community continues to follow (the) local health authority’s measures to counter the spread of COVID-19. We are currently in the middle of a surge. The city encourages the community to monitor symptoms, wear masks, social distance and avoid large crowds whenever possible. The mask mandate will be in effect for indoor municipal facilities until further notice.”
Interim City Manager John Sheedy was also asked to comment on the new mandate.
Sheedy said, “The city provides numerous services which our citizens depend upon to protect, provide and assist. These services are threatened when employees are unable to perform their jobs. To prevent negative impact to our citizens by elimination or reduction of critical services, I understand that we need to take any reasonable protective measures we can to ensure our employees remain healthy, productive and able to meet their important job responsibilities.”
Sheedy added, “I appreciate the mask mandate that was implemented by Del Rio City Council as I believe it is a very reasonable and responsible means to ensure continuity of government services. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and assistance to keep our city services running and uninterrupted. Thank you to all our citizens and staff.”
On Friday morning, the city issued a press release acknowledging the reinstated mask mandate countermands Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA-38, which states, in part, “ . . . no person may be required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering.”
The city’s press release reads, “This is to support measures to combat a virus that has taken many lives in our community. These efforts are made alongside many other Texas municipalities who have implemented mask requirements within their facilities. Under this health emergency, the City of Del Rio Mayor and City Council deemed it necessary under emergency powers to execute a mask mandate within city facilities in order to maintain continuity of government services for our citizens.”
“Patrons who do not wish to wear a face covering also have the option to utilize our drive thru, phone payment system or online payment option,” the release continues.
The release also contains a list of city facilities where the wearing of masks will be required, including the following: City Hall, City Annex, Del Rio Police Department, Del Rio Fire Department, WIC, Joe Ramos Nutrition Center, Emergency Operations Center, Municipal Court, Neighborhood Services, Animal Control Center, Parks and Recreation Office, inside the San Felipe Springs Golf Course Pro Shop, inside the Recycling Center and the Transportation Depot.
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