The nation-wide controversy about wearing masks during the COVID-19 crisis has found its way to Wayland.

The Wayland City Council and Police Chief Mark Garnsey got an earful Monday night about a complaint filed by local citizen Jake Gless, who charged that a local business was not observing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order to wear masks inside public dwellings.

Gless said he inquired of a clerk in the store why mask wearing wasn’t observed and was told local police were charged with enforcement. Gless posted information about the incident and created a firestorm, including threatening comments from those who don’t see things the same way.

He said, “I was following the rules in this instance. It was the cashier and the company who weren’t… I believe that in a democracy we have to follow the rules.”

Gless said some people have insisted Whitmer’s orders are not laws. they are mandates, but he maintained that a democratically-elected governor, as the state’s chief executive officer, can issue orders that should be regarded as law.

Police Chief Mark Garnsey accused Gless or hurting the local business by raising a ruckus. And there are other local stores not following mask rules as well.

In response to Gless asserting a perfectly healthy young couple refused to mask up, the chief asked, “Did you ask if they had a medical condition? We don’t even know.”

The two continued debating until Mayor Tim Bala gaveled them down, suggesting Gless take up the issue with the chief at the police station. But it wasn’t over.

A woman who identified herself as Carmen, a local business woman, said, “This is the kind of confrontation that will continue (regardless)… I am a supporter of the police department… These are the kinds of things we don’t need here. We need to work together.

“We have a beautiful community, let’s keep it that way.

“There are police departments (all over the state) that are not enforcing this. They have bigger fish to fry.”

Nate Ward, who has just completed a year as the student representative on the council, said, “A democratically-elected governor should be followed when she issues an executive order.”

In other business at Monday night’s virtual meeting, the council:

• Authorized City Manager Josh Eggleston to apply for a state CARES reimbursement of $8,000 for city essential service workers, including the Department of Public Works. “We are applying for reimbursement of approximately $30,000 ($1,000 per eligible employee) the other CARES act,” he said. “The city feels that the state was remiss In overlooking DPW/Utility employees in the enacting of this program. So we have made the decision to grant this pay to all dpw/utility at an non reimbursed cost of $8,000 (eight employees).”
• Agreed to buy a vactor truck for city workers at a cost of $541,810 over seven years with a loan from United Bank at below 2.5%.
• Was told by Eggleston between six and seven finalists for the city clerk’s job will be interviewed Monday, July 27. The new clerk will succeed Michelle Herman, who retired last December. Kristin Engel has been serving as interim city clerk since January.
• Learned from Eggleston that a hearing on city annexation of a dozen properties just west of the U.S.-131 expressway in Hopkins Township may be held as early as late August.