By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Having served as mayor during 2020, and the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, Hays city commissioner Shaun Musil called it "an interesting year" at Thursday night's meeting as he talked about the expiration of the city's face mask ordinance on Wednesday afternoon.
The local ordinance had been in effect since July 27, 2020, and extended through Oct. 5, 2020. At a vote during a special meeting on Oct. 2, 2020, metrics suggested by Ellis County Health Department Director Jason Kennedy and Michael Berges, city commissioner, were put forward as an end point to the Hays ordinance.
"I'd like to thank not only our city, our county, our region, people traveling to Hays," Musil said. "There was so much negativity when it was all going on.
"I want to commend Commissioner Berges. When you came up on our last vote (to extend the mask ordinance) on a number to where once we hit it, it went off (automatically) and we didn't have to vote.
"I think it just gave people the (reassurance) that if we hit it, it's going to happen, and it did."
On Wednesday, the Ellis County Health Department announced the seven-day average of new COVID cases per day to be two, marking the 14th consecutive day Ellis County reported an average of 5 or fewer cases per day. In meeting that metric on March 10, the Hays ordinance expired.
Musil, co-owner, along with his wife Heather, of Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market in downtown Hays, said there's a "positive vibe in our community."
"People are coming back to our community because they're getting their (COVID-19) vaccinations, people that haven't been to Hays in many, many months, and they feel comfortable."
Commissioner Ron Mellick urged everyone to get their vaccine when it is available.
Commissioner Mason Ruder, who voted against the face mask ordinance and its extension, pointed out it has been one year since the pandemic was declared on March 11, 2020. He also thanked the community.
"I think we've got a bright future ahead of us and we just need to keep working hard," Ruder said.
He asked for support of local businesses.
"They were hurt hard during this last year. So please continue to frequent their establishments, and respect their decisions."
Musil said he had talked to a major Hays bar owner earlier Thursday who said his staff is going to continue to wear masks "because he feels like many of his customers expect that."
Gov. Laura Kelly's executive order requiring face coverings remains in effect through the end of the month.
"I think there's a lot of people in this community that's going to continue to do the right thing," Musil added. "I think we've learned a lot from this.
"I think we're better for it. None of us wanted to control anybody, but we were looking out for our community."
"I was hoping we had some real strong behavioral change, (including) not large gatherings," said Sandy Jacobs, the current Hays mayor. "I hope some of those things carry over."
"Since the Hays mandate came off, there are masks still being worn everywhere. I was in two or three different businesses where that will continue."
She noted the governor's order is in place through March 31 and Ellis County commissioners "did not opt out of that mandate, so that still exists. The city commission's does not."
For the first time in nearly a year, the University of Kansas Health System reported there were zero active COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed Thursday, down from seven on Wednesday.
More information about the Governor’s Executive Order requiring masks can be found at https://governor.kansas.gov/.