HomeMy WebLinkAboutCrystal PowellNovember 18, 2020
Mayor Merrill and Members of the Rexburg City Council
It has come to my attention that the Rexburg City Council is continuing to consider instituting a city-wide mask mandate
(Ordinance no. 1243), and that it will be brought up for a second and third reading tonight at the City Council Meeting.
Accompanying this mandate, the Council would also like to add an enforcement element including fines and business
shut -downs for noncompliance. Is this correct? I have been unsuccessful in locating the wording of this ordinance either
on the city's website or through media press releases; therefore, I am proceeding according to information I have obtained
through peripheral sources.
I have a few comments and questions regarding the proposed mandate:
1. Madison County is currently under a mask mandate instituted by the East Idaho Public Health Department. Why does
Rexburg need an additional mandate?
2. Every business I enter already has masked employees. How will this proposed mandate change that?
3. Nearly every person I see in public places is wearing a mask. How will this proposed mandate change that?
4. Students and employees in our public schools are already wearing masks. How will this proposed mandate change
that?
5. Students and employees at BYUI are already wearing masks. How will this proposed mandate change that?
The mask mandate that has been in operation for several weeks in Madison County, and before that, the mask
recommendation that had been in operation for several months, have not eradicated the coronavirus. Where nearly
complete county -wide compliance has actually been achieved without the additional mandate, and eradication of the virus
still has not been accomplished, I cannot see how Instituting the additional mandate with punitive measures will do so.
What I do see is that those who we have elected to represent us are neglecting their designated role. Each of you sought
office in order to represent your constituents, not control us or rule over us. In pushing for punitive measures, you are not
representing those who elected you. You may be attempting to appease the Governor, who didn't elect you; or the Public
Health Department, who didn't elect you; or the media, who didn't elect you; or a few loud voices who do not represent the
majority of your constituents. In this case, as with all cases in your public service, you are to ascertain the will of the
people and then govern accordingly. I believe you are neglecting that duty. If you continue to push for punitive measures,
are you prepared to alienate the very neighbor -loving, liberty -loving, law -and -order -loving people of this community who
have largely complied with your recommendations in the past by wearing masks, social distancing, quarantining, washing
hands, limiting gatherings, etc? Are you prepared to push them into a level of civil disobedience which may result in a
possible desertion of these recommendations? Are you prepared to fine them, and then when they refuse to pay the fine,
jail them? If you are in touch with those you represent, you surely know that we are done being pushed. We have the
same access to the same information you have regarding this coronavirus and we are prepared to be cautious and
responsible, but not controlled.
Trust the people of this county to act responsibly in their private and public actions. The vast majority are doing so, and
the small minority who may not be performing according to your desires will not significantly alter the course of this virus.
Trust the health care professionals in their ability to treat those afflicted with this illness, as they do with other illnesses.
Trust them to improvise as necessary, as they are trained, educated, and Inclined to do. Trust the businesses to act in the
best interest of their customers. Trust them to improvise as necessary, as they are trained, educated, and inclined to do.
Government claims of emergency powers are, at this point, groundless, especially in Madison County. This is no longer
the emergency that it was feared to be nine months ago. We, as the people, will no longer tolerate your insistent
infringement on our unalienable rights.
We are all conscientiously working to manage this and other concerns in our community and personal lives. Please don't
make the situation worse.
Sincerely,
Crystal Powell
444 Maple Drive, Rexburg, Idaho 83440