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City will not require masks in public

 

LANDRUM—The City of Landrum considered an ordinance to require masks in public but the majority of council members were not in favor.

Landrum City Council met last week and heard from Mayor Bob Briggs about the proposed ordinance.

Briggs said at the time there were 51 cities in the state who were requiring masks in public.

Councilman Billy Inman said it is not his job to tell people they cannot smoke and was not in favor.

Some public comments were also made, which were all against the ordinance. One man said if Landrum passed the law he would not shop.

Briggs said if council did not want an ordinance, would they consider at least encouraging people to wear masks and to social distance. He said the city could tell people if they are coming to Landrum that the city encourages masks and social distancing. He also said people can take the masks off to eat or walk down the street.

“My point is, it is better to wear a mask for 6 weeks or shutdown,” Briggs said.

Briggs proposed an ordinance that would have required face coverings in retail and food service establishments.

North Carolina has required the same statewide, but many businesses are not adhering to the executive order. South Carolina has not approved an executive order, but many cities have done their own ordinances requiring masks in public.

The proposed ordinance for Landrum was from the Municipal Association of South Carolina and said health authorities, including the CDC, the Surgeon General of the United States and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control have recommended the use of face coverings as a means of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The ordinance would have to have been approved by at least a 2/3 vote by council. There was no vote last week in Landrum, but all council members voiced their opinion they were not in favor of the ordinance.