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.
The bigger question is, can governments at all levels pick and choose laws they will enforce? Laws regarding immigration, drugs and in general, arson, assault, looting, damaging property during demonstrations are at best selectively enforced. Have a Black Lives Matter (BLM) mass demonstration, and laws are not enforced; but try to have a 4th of July parade in Dorr, and the law lands on an elderly grandfather like a ton of bricks? Masks in Wayland are just a symptom of a bigger issue.
I am for all people masking up and I have been long before it was required, but scofflaws are so common that good folks ask, why should we follow any law? Let us start with our Governor following federal immigration and drug laws, and laws concerning 100 or more people gathering (even BLM), and see what happens.
Mr. Traxler.
Yes, you are correct…sadly as things are pushed “downhill ” it ends being the responsibility of the “common man”.
We all agree our law enforcement agencies do not have the man power for enforcing this. Their only option is to send their report to the prosecutor’s office and they can handle the matter.
Yes, businesses are side stepping their part by ignoring the EO. Saying they need that patrons money to survive.
The cause of the problem are we the people. There are very few businesses that curbside or other services are not available so one doesn’t enter the building.
Of course, the few that do not have delivery or curbside services and you wish to use….just wear the mask.
If you are so against the mask utilize a place that doesn’t require one…..currently, Michigan doesn’t have such a business.
There are issues to go into “full rebellion mode” over but wearing the mask is not the one.
I may not be a supporter of mask wearing since returning to work where the mask and routine testing is mandatory. Wearing the mask is no big problem for me.
The problem is those that know a business mandates a mask….than once inside decide not to wear or wear it incorrectly ( defeating the purpose of the mask ) .
We the workers have to ask them to keep their masks up….which causes confrontations many times.
To those who refuse to wear the mask use a business that does not require one.
To you businesses that do not require the mask post signage stating so ….than those who wear masks can go somewhere else to do their business.
To local law enforcement, just take a report and send it to the County Prosecutor’s office…
The Governor has “passed “all yhe enforcement to the local level….so just pass it back up the “chain”. Let the Prosecutor order you to arrest or close a business or person.
In my opinion these three simple things can make everyone less confrontational.
There just aren’t resources enough to post extra officers around retail locations. Anyone should know that. To the PD it is an unfunded mandate to ask them for enforcement. But at the same time, if they did intervene just a few times, and every so often, word gets around and there would likely be better compliance. (and maybe they’d find some folks that already have warrants, always a plus)
Unfortunately the 6-year-old’s “you’re not the boss of me” mentality of the violators really makes for a difficult and confrontational situation for the business owner. There’s a lot at risk for them in trying to remove people from a premises. Nobody wants to escalate a situation when you’re already dealing with less than clear thinking from the get go. The violators know this and they know they are going to get away with it. (They might even squeal about their freedoms.)
Its likely that retailers have weighed the risks to their livelihood and determined that ignoring violators is their best course of action financially. I would guess so.
They aren’t going to feel to personally involved or liable if your uncle Bob dies of the most contagious, deadly disease we’ve seen since 1918. (They need to continue to sell ground beef that’s dyed red on the outside and is grey on the inside along fish from China)
To post private security at the door and a sign that says “No Mask No Entry” could be cost prohibitive. You’re just asking another company to assume most of the risk. Those providers will do their due diligence and charge accordingly.
Its not a stretch to consider non-mask wearers guilty of some reckless endangerment. Spitting on others is certainly a well established assault, and intentionally exposing another person to an infectious disease is as well.
Its the non-mask wearer’s behavior that steps on the right to life, liberty, and security of person for everyone else. (basic human rights)
Seems like a great opportunity for a well informed and organized group that believes in, and takes a stand for the rights and freedom of people, to step up and provide point of entry support at the grocery and other locations. Because the people want it and “the state” won’t provide it.
Mr. Greg,
The mask issue isn’t one of less COVID19 by wearing a mask, as the virus is so small it goes through most commercial and homemade masks. This is why Dr. Fauci said at the very beginning not to wear one and then was coerced into endorsing masks. I wear a mask at work and in public places so others feel safe, but it is a placebo effect. If you cough or sneeze the droplets are contained in the mask, but if positive for the virus, you have a mask with it. And breathing expelled CO2 is not good for you.
All in the name of unscientific science and media propaganda. Ain’t life grand?
Maybe more people should mind their own business, including Mr. Gless. If you are uncomfortable with the possibility of encountering someone without a mask, whether it be medical reasons or otherwise, stay home. A relative of mine, who is a medical doctor, put it this way. If someone passes gas, through their cotton underwear and a pair of blue jeans, and you smell it, how well do you think your homemade mask, non-medical grade mask, or bandana is really working against the COVID virus?