COLUMBUS — Bartholomew County’s commissioners say they are opposed to a potential county-wide mask mandate, arguing that it’s not the government’s role to order people to wear masks and that such an order could be a “nightmare for police” to enforce in more rural areas.
The city of Columbus and Bartholomew County Health Officer Dr. Brian Niedbalski are in discussions about a potential order requiring people to wear masks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
So far, local officials have released few details about the mandate, but Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop has said that it would largely focus on indoor spaces and could be issued as early as this week.
Any mandate would need to come from Niedbalski, not the mayor’s office, city and county officials said. Bartholomew County Commissioner Carl Lienhoop said the county health officer has “broad powers,” including the authority to issue a mask mandate without the approval of the commissioners.
“Neither the commissioners nor the mayor have the actual power,” said Commissioner Carl Lienhoop, who represents the commissioners on the COVID-19 Community Task Force. “It has to come from the county health officer.”
Niedbalski said Wednesday that city and county officials “are still working on some particulars on wording” but did not give any indication of when, or if, any order would be issued.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
