Manatee OKs new COVID-19 mask mandate exemption. You don’t have to wear one at church
A group of concerned citizens convinced the Manatee County Commission to modify its COVID-19 mask mandate, removing the requirement to wear masks within houses of worship.
Forcing worshippers to wear masks is an “overreach” of government authority, residents said at Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. After listening to their concerns, commissioners voted 6-1 to make the change.
One of the speakers was Rev. Joel Tillis, senior pastor at Suncoast Baptist Church, who previously filed a lawsuit against Manatee County seeking to amend the mask mandate with an exemption for houses of worship.
“I do not call into question the intent of your resolution, but I do call into question the unintended consequences of your decision,” Tillis told commissioners, arguing that the mask mandate gives his churchgoers “less right to worship.”
The board first approved the mask mandate, which requires masks to be worn in private businesses where social distancing is not possible, on July 27. While the mandate provided several exemptions, including for those eating at restaurants, exercising or persons with medical conditions, it required masks inside churches if social distancing was not possible.
On Aug. 3, Tillis announced his decision to work with Rep. Anthony Sabatini to sue the county. As of Tuesday afternoon, a court date had not been set in the case.
Other speakers said they were concerned about the precedent that the mask mandate might set, especially within houses of worship.
“It sets a dangerous precedent,” said Jamie Gardner. “If we allow the government to tell us what to wear, I have no doubt they will tell us how closely we can sit, how many people can attend and how many people can sing.”
Several commissioners said they were concerned about how the resolution included houses of worship but voted in support for public safety reasons.
“When this first came to me to review, I said we can’t do this with churches. We just can’t,” said Commissioner Betsy Benac. “I appreciate y’all coming in because I’ve been very uncomfortable. Having said that, I think you should be wearing a mask.”
“I don’t think church has been taken away because, honestly, I believe church is in the heart,” Commissioner Reggie Bellamy added, noting that the board approved the mandate as an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. “But we still want to look for that downward trajectory.”
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who has consistently voted against the county’s COVID-19 curfew and mask requirement measures, said she was glad to see her fellow board members modify the resolution.
“The bottom line is I feel that houses of worship should have never been included. That is truly getting into the personal space of us as individuals and our right to worship,” Baugh explained.
While Commissioner Steve Jonsson said he supported the change, he cast the only dissenting vote on Tuesday’s vote, arguing that he didn’t support the mask mandate in any form.
Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague explained that the inclusion of houses of worship in Manatee County’s mask mandate resolution is a word-for-word carryover from the Leon County model that the resolution is based on. Even though commissioners voted to remove, that decision does not present a legal risk.
“It is something the board has the discretion to do. It’s not something where we have a legal concern,” Clague advised the board. “I do think you should realize that we are in litigation, and if you’re going to do it, do it because it’s the right policy choice.”
Tuesday’s motion removed houses of worship from the current mask mandate, effective immediately. The County Attorney’s Office will present a new resolution with the same changes at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 4:05 PM.
