Town affirms governor’s restrictions

Members of the town of Taos council voted to affirm the state’s public health order on Tuesday (July 14) and added a few town specific measures.

The order calls for the shutdown of all indoor restaurant seating and requires masks in all public settings, even when exercising.

The order also calls for a mandatory quarantine for all out-ofstate guests not visiting on “essential” business. Short-term rentals and hotels are also mentioned in the town’s order, which holds owners responsible for ensuring their guests follow the new rules.

Failure to comply with the order in Taos can result in a petty misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $500 along with 90 days in jail.

“We’ll get through this all together, we just want to make sure everyone is safe and healthy,” said Mayor Dan Barrone during the meeting.

The council also voted to continue a midnight to 5 a.m. curfew in the town.

At the tail end of the meeting, town manager Rick Bellis expressed concern for the town’s water usage. He suggested moving from stage 3 to stage 5 water restrictions.

According to Bellis, two wells in the town’s system have been running nonstop trying to meet the demand this summer.

He proposed tightening restrictions for water use in town to include prohibiting the use of sprinklers and drip systems for gardens. Stage 5 also calls for a halt on washing any outdoor building or sidewalk with water.

Bellis did indicate a reprieve for laundromats and car washes, which would be prohibited under the change.

The council did not make the decision to move to stage 5 but said it will examine the situation over the next week.