Fort Smith board withdraws proposal on masks

FORT SMITH — A proposed ordinance regarding masks will not be discussed by the Fort Smith Board of Directors as originally planned.

Fort Smith City Director Keith Lau contacted the city clerk’s office to request that the proposed ordinance to require the use of masks when indoors be removed from the agenda of the board’s regular meeting, according to a news release from the city Thursday.

On Thursday, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced an executive order requiring Arkansans to wear face coverings beginning Monday in all public places where physical distancing is not possible.

Removing items from the agenda requires the concurrence of four board members, the release states. All of the directors were contacted and told of Lau’s request, with Directors Lavon Morton, George Catsavis, Robyn Dawson, Kevin Settle and Neal Martin concurring, and Andre’ Good objecting.

The Board of Directors held a special meeting Saturday to discuss the proposed ordinance, which was modeled after one Hutchinson previously had announced. It would have required facial coverings in all indoor venues but not in outdoor settings in accordance with state Department of Health recommendations.

The board voted to amend the proposed ordinance to instead state that the city would encourage the use of facial coverings in accordance with Department of Health guidance. The board then voted to table the proposed ordinance.

Lau’s request also sought the removal of another proposed ordinance that would require the use of facial coverings, according to the city. That proposed ordinance was placed on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting at Morton’s request, which gained the concurrence of Lau, Good, Catsavis, Dawson, and Settle, but Martin’s objection, according to a city news release Wednesday.

City Administrator Carl Geffken said it was the model ordinance announced by Hutchinson as amended by the city administration.

During a July 7 regular meeting, the board approved a resolution that “strongly encourages” the use of masks, but doesn’t mandate it.