Manatee has been slow to require COVID-19 masks. Here’s how mandates work on Anna Maria Island

As the Manatee County Commission moves toward a vote next week on a countywide mask mandate because of COVID-19, officials only have to look to Anna Maria Island to see how such rules are working.

The proposed county ordinance comes almost a month after the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach enacted ordinances that require everyone to wear masks while inside public buildings and local businesses.

There were some early grumblings from some visitors and residents about being required to wear masks instead of keeping it optional. However, officials said the emergency ordinances are working as intended.

A violation Anna Maria’s emergency order can bring a $50 fine, while Holmes Beach’s order contains a more severe financial penalty of $250 for a first offense and $500 for any subsequent violations. Both orders are temporary and will need to be extended periodically as needed.

So far, not a single citation has been written in either city.

“Everything is going well and everybody is being compliant,” said Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. “The business owners are the first point of contact and can tell them, ‘No shoes, no shirts, no masks, no service.’ The business owners say something to them and if they don’t comply, then they call us but we have had no issues.”

The city is also warning visitors via its message board into the city that says, “Wear a mask, it’s the law.”

Similar successes were reported by Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy.

“We wanted people to be compliant and that’s what we got,” Murphy said.

The city of Bradenton passed an emergency ordinance last week, but stopped short of making masks mandatory. Instead, the onus has been put on business owners, who are required to encourage customers to wear a mask via signs on their businesses.

It is the business owners who can be fined for not posting the signs, but face masks are still not mandatory. However, business owners reserve the right to make that decision for themselves.

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston said he’s received nothing but positive feedback from residents and business owners alike.

The city of Palmetto took up a similar ordinance but rejected it on July 21. However, city officials are working on a revised version and are likely to take another vote at their next meeting in August.

Bradenton Beach, the third Anna Maria Island city, has yet to consider any mask-related regulations.

This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 11:38 AM.