By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
ELLIS — Visitors to Ellis City Hall are no longer required to wear a facemask after the City Council ended the provision during their regular meeting Monday.
The motion to remove the mandate was made by council member Kellie Crnkovich.
"The state has dropped all mandates, so I don't see why we have to have a mandate," Crnkovich said.
Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion.
Along with the end of the mask mandate, council chambers will also be returned to a pre-pandemic configuration.
With no discussion, the council voted 4-2 in favor of the measure.
Council member Jolene Niernberger and council president John Walz made up the dissenting votes.
Council members Devin Henderson and Tricia Pritchett, along with LaBarge and Crnkovich, voted in favor of the measure.
Walz said after the vote he was in favor of removing the mask mandate but hoped to continue with the newer configuration of the council chambers.
The measure took effect immediately, with most present immediately removing their masks.